New Electoral Law Takes Effect for 2025 Bundestag Elections

The 2025 Bundestag elections are now underway, following the implementation of a new electoral law that significantly alters the voting process for German citizens. While voters will retain the ability to cast two votes--one for a direct candidate and another for a political party--the changes primarily affect how these votes are converted into parliamentary seats.

The elections commenced at 8 AM as citizens began casting their ballots at polling stations across the country. Preliminary polls indicated that Friedrich Merz and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) were leading ahead of the election.

One of the most notable aspects of the revised electoral framework is the limitation on the number of Members of Parliament (MPs) to 630, a reduction from 736 in the previous election cycle. This adjustment is facilitated by the elimination of overhang and compensatory mandates, which had historically contributed to the expansion of the Bundestag.

Overhang mandates occur when a party wins more direct mandates through first votes than its overall representation would allow based on second votes. Previously, parties could retain these excess mandates, while other parties were allocated compensatory mandates to balance the representation. In the 2021 elections, there were 34 overhang mandates and 104 compensatory mandates.

With the new regulations, the significance of the second vote is amplified. A direct mandate will only be assured if it is supported by the second vote outcome. Under the previous system, candidates who secured the most first votes were automatically elected, but this may no longer be the case. Candidates with the least support in first votes could find themselves excluded from the Bundestag if their party secures more direct mandates than allowed by the second vote.

Parties still need to achieve at least five percent of the second votes to qualify for representation in the Bundestag. Additionally, the basic mandate clause remains intact, allowing parties that do not meet the five percent threshold but gain three direct mandates to enter the parliament based on their second vote results.

As the election progresses, it will be crucial to monitor how these changes impact party dynamics and voter behavior in Germany.