Mayoral and City Council Elections; Information on the Election Process

In municipal council elections, voters generally have as many votes as there are seats to be filled. Voters have the option to “cumulate” their votes, meaning they can cast up to 3 votes for individual candidates. In addition, voters can split their votes, meaning they can distribute their votes among candidates from different slates.

In the election for mayor, voters have one vote.

Right to Vote and Eligibility to Stand for Election

In principle, all German citizens and all nationals of the other member states of the European Union who have reached the age of 18 by Election Day, have resided in the municipality for at least two months with the center of their life there, and are not disqualified from voting are eligible to vote.

Anyone wishing to be elected to the municipal council must be a citizen of the European Union on Election Day, have reached the age of 18, and, as a general rule, have had a residence in the municipality for at least three months—which need not be their primary residence—or, if they do not have a residence, habitually reside in the electoral district. These requirements must also be met by anyone wishing to be elected to the office of honorary mayor, although for this position, the candidate must be a German citizen within the meaning of Article 116(1) of the Basic Law. A person may also be elected as a full-time mayor even if they have neither a residence nor their habitual residence in the municipality. There must be no grounds for ineligibility to stand for election, either in the election for municipal council member or in the election for mayor.

For more details, please contact your municipality.

There are numerous deadlines to keep in mind when preparing for and conducting the municipal election.

For more details, please contact your municipality.