Berlin Sees Decline in Mail-In Voting Applications Ahead of Bundestag Elections

As the Bundestag elections approach, preliminary reports indicate a slight decrease in the number of mail-in voting applications in Berlin compared to previous elections. According to Berlin's electoral chief, the city has received 836,464 applications for mail-in ballots, representing 34.5% of the 2.4 million eligible voters. This marks a drop from 36.2% during the 2021 Bundestag elections and the partial repeat in 2024.

The trend of increasing mail-in voting, which surged during the pandemic in 2021, does not appear to be continuing this time. Various experts had anticipated a higher percentage of mail-in voters, but this expectation has not materialized. The electoral chief cited several factors for this unexpected outcome, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on voting habits in previous elections.

One significant change this election cycle is the reduced timeframe for mail-in voting applications, which has been shortened from six weeks to approximately two weeks. Voters can apply for mail-in ballots until today at 3 PM, but due to the tight deadline, many may need to visit local election offices directly to secure their ballots.

This shift in voting behavior may also be influenced by increased encouragement from election officials to utilize in-person voting. The electoral chief has expressed support for a return to traditional ballot casting at polling stations, suggesting that this approach is gaining traction among voters.

As the election date draws near, it remains to be seen how many of those who applied for mail-in ballots will ultimately return their voting materials in time to participate in the election. The dynamics of voter turnout and preferences for mail-in versus in-person voting will be closely monitored as Berlin prepares for this critical democratic exercise.