Challenges Faced by Overseas Germans in the 2025 Bundestag Election

The Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), which narrowly missed entering the Bundestag, is now considering contesting the election results. Theoretically, votes from Germans living abroad could have helped the BSW surpass the five percent threshold, as the party was short by 13,435 votes. However, it is unlikely that the Federal Constitutional Court would rule in their favor.

According to investigations by Süddeutsche Zeitung and NDR, the failure of many Germans living abroad to return their voting documents in time stems not only from early deadlines and slow postal delivery but also from inefficiencies within local election offices. An inquiry among the 80 largest German cities reveals that many election offices could have expedited the preparation and dispatching of materials. The Federal Returning Officer's press office was unable to provide data on how many of the approximately 213,000 registered overseas voters actually participated in the election, as the documents are stored and counted in the municipalities.

Some municipalities indicated that the printing of election materials for overseas Germans was ordered too late in certain offices, while others managed their preparations well in advance. For instance, in Munich, the preparations were in place by the autumn of the previous year. Beate Winterer from the city's administrative office stated that they had anticipated the need for mail-in voting from the outset, knowing that shortened deadlines could pose a significant challenge. On February 4, election documents were sent to around 11,000 registered overseas voters in Munich, facilitated by a long-standing collaboration with their printing service, which worked overtime to print and dispatch the materials quickly. This efficiency allowed them to save days in the process.

In contrast, some cities dispatched their voting materials up to eleven days later than others, according to the findings. Additionally, the choice of postal service had implications for timely delivery. While most municipalities chose the faster Deutsche Post, some opted for private postal services to cut costs, resulting in ballots being routed through a third country before reaching their destination. For example, ballots from Nuremberg were first sent to Salzburg before being forwarded to their final destination. This delay was partly attributed to a strike announced by Deutsche Post. Furthermore, any letter sent across borders must adhere to the postal regulations of the receiving country.

A German citizen residing in Switzerland reported waiting thirteen days for their voting documents. They were only able to submit their ballot in time by personally delivering it to Nuremberg. The ARD studio in South Asia had called on German voters worldwide to share their experiences via social media, prompting hundreds to respond with images of their voting documents or reports of not having received them at all.

Long postal routes remain a persistent hurdle for timely delivery, particularly for overseas Germans in countries like the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. Many voters reported that their election materials arrived too late. As a potential solution, other countries have implemented online voting systems. In Estonia, all eligible voters can cast their ballots online, while some regions in Switzerland are experimenting with digital voting options. France also provides online voting for citizens living abroad.

Experts suggest that internet-based voting could be an optimal solution for Germans residing abroad. Robert Krimmer, an authority on digital transformation, emphasizes that digital voting could significantly streamline administrative processes and reduce costs for municipalities, as mail-in voting is the most expensive form of ballot casting.

However, the prospect of online voting in Germany faces significant legal hurdles. Constitutional law expert Sophie Schönberger notes that the Federal Constitutional Court has established strict standards that voting technology must meet, deeming many forms of electronic voting unconstitutional due to concerns over manipulation. Krimmer adds that the decision to pursue online voting hinges on political will and ongoing legal discussions, highlighting the conservative stance of the Constitutional Court in this matter.