State elections in Schleswig-Holstein: The news in the live blog

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Despite the beautiful early summer weather, people are queuing in front of a polling station in Eckernförde

Photo: FABIAN BIMMER / REUTERS

• 5/8/20222:55:00 PM

  The two-vote system applies in Schleswig-Holstein.

  This means that the 35 mandates from the constituencies are awarded with the first vote.

  Whoever gets the most votes there is elected.

  The second vote is for the state list of a party, which adds a regular 34 mandates.

  If a party receives more direct mandates in the constituencies than it would be entitled to based on second votes, it retains these multiple seats.

  The other parties receive compensation mandates according to their share.

  The five percent hurdle applies - except for the South Schleswig Voters' Association (SSW).

• 5/8/20222:53:00PM

  Three days before the state elections in Schleswig-Holstein, Prime Minister Daniel Günther and his CDU are heading for a clear victory.

  This is the result of a representative survey by the opinion research institute Civey for SPIEGEL.

  Read more here: 

  
  
  
  

• 5/8/20222:51:00 PM

  The top candidates from the CDU, Greens and SPD have already voted today.

  Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) was optimistic when voting.

  "I would be happy if the polls were confirmed and the CDU became by far the strongest force, because I would very much like to continue this government," he said after the election in Eckernförde.

  The alliance of the CDU, FDP and Greens has done Schleswig-Holstein good.

  
  
  

  SPD challenger Thomas Losse-Müller was also in good spirits.

  "As the SPD, we have fought with all our might for every vote in the past few weeks," he said, according to a statement.

  The election campaign was overshadowed by major global political issues for a long time, but attention to the issues in the country has increased in recent days.

  There was a lot of support for the rental price brake, a tariff loyalty law and free daycare centers on the markets and on front doors.

  "I'm counting on social issues returning to the state government with the SPD."

  
  
  

  The top candidate of the Greens, Monika Heinold, cast her vote in Kiel in the morning.

  She showed up at her polling station with postal ballot papers.

  Heinold had requested postal voting out of concern that she could be infected with the corona virus on election day, as a spokesman said.

  "Today ends an election campaign overshadowed by the war," said the finance minister when she cast her vote.

  The election campaign was democratic and fair.

  "I'm now hoping for strong Greens in the new state parliament and for a government that is resolute in tackling the crucial issues of the future." 

• 5/8/20221:48:10PM

  Today is relatively good weather in northern Germany - the sun is shining in many places.

  Most voters in the country should be happy, but rain and cold would certainly not have been worse for democracy.

  By 2 p.m. in Schleswig-Holstein, 36.8 percent of those eligible to vote in the polling stations had cast their votes, as the state returning officer announced on his website.

  In 2017, 42.5 percent had already done so at this point.

  Voter turnout at the time was 64.2 percent.

  According to earlier information, the deputy state returning officer, Maik Petersen, assumed that there would be a lively participation in the postal vote.

  In 2017, the proportion of postal votes was 18 percent. 

• 5/8/20221:43:00 PM

  Welcome to the SPIEGEL.de live ticker for the state elections in Schleswig-Holstein.

  Here you can find out everything you need to know about the new parliament in Kiel. 

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