Federal election 2021: The important rules for the voting slip

The crosses will be made on September 26, 2021.

We explain how this works correctly on the ballot for the federal election.

Berlin / Munich - When the polling stations close on September 26th, all of Germany will look to Berlin.

The election of the German Bundestag is considered to be the most important vote, as the governing coalitions are forged from the voting relationships.

Every eligible voter is therefore asked to cast their vote either at the polling station or by postal vote.

There are a few things to consider when filling out the voting slip for the 2021 federal election.

Federal election 2021: what is the first vote and what is the second vote on the ballot paper?

In the Bundestag election, each person entitled to vote has two votes.

The first and second vote.

With the first vote, you choose the direct candidate from the respective group who is applying for a seat in the German Bundestag.

The left half of the voting slip is for this cross.

The second vote is on the right.

It applies to the party that wants to be represented in the Bundestag.

The second vote is decisive for the formation of a government, as the majority can be mapped on the basis of the percentage of votes.

The decisive factor here: the five percent hurdle.

Parties that want to move into the Bundestag must get at least five percent of the second votes in order to move into parliament.

Ballot for the Bundestag election: This is how one vote is valid

The voting slip is divided into two parts in terms of color and content.

On the left-hand side, which is black, the applicants from the respective constituency are listed one below the other.

On the right-hand side, which is marked in blue, the voters can select the country list of one of the authorized parties.

The choice is made by ticking a circle on a list.

Important: If the person entitled to vote writes something on the ballot, the vote is invalid.

In order to cast a valid ballot, eligible voters may only put a cross on each side.

There are also guidelines to be observed when setting crosses.

If a person entitled to vote ticks more than one option per column, the respective vote is invalid.

So if more than one direct candidate is ticked, the vote for the direct candidate does not count, but if there is a tick next to the second vote, it counts.

The reverse is also true.

Federal election 2021: This is how voting at the polling station works

In the Bundestag election, eligible voters can cast their votes in a polling station.

In the run-up to the election, they will receive a voting notification stating the date of the election and the location of the polling station.

On election day, those entitled to vote are requested to submit their vote at the polling station with ID card or passport and voting notification.

In the booth, the person entitled to vote places his cross, folds the ballot paper and throws it into the ballot box.

Federal election 2021: The most important thing about postal voting

Voting by postal vote must be requested in advance of the election.

For this purpose, those entitled to vote can apply for a voting slip from their respective municipality.

The application should be submitted as early as possible, the voting slip can be submitted by 6:00 p.m. on the Friday before the election day at the latest

be requested.

After the documents have been sent to the voter, he can cast his vote. The completed voting slip for the 2021 federal election must be placed in the blue envelope (voting slip envelope) and sealed. An affidavit must also be dated and signed on the ballot paper before the ballot paper and the blue ballot envelope can be put into the red ballot envelope. Eligible voters seal the voting envelope and post it within Germany without postage. The envelope must have arrived at the polling office by 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, so that the vote can be counted.