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NRW election 2022: You should keep this in mind when filling out the ballot paper

2022-05-13T14:56:43.381Z


NRW election 2022: You should keep this in mind when filling out the ballot paper Created: 05/12/2022, 14:22 By: Victoria Maiwald In May, the 18th state parliament in NRW is due to be elected (symbol image). ©Oliver Berg/dpa The state elections in NRW are already imminent. Voters can use their ballot to decide who governs the country. Düsseldorf – After the federal elections in Germany in May


NRW election 2022: You should keep this in mind when filling out the ballot paper

Created: 05/12/2022, 14:22

By: Victoria Maiwald

In May, the 18th state parliament in NRW is due to be elected (symbol image).

©Oliver Berg/dpa

The state elections in NRW are already imminent.

Voters can use their ballot to decide who governs the country.

Düsseldorf – After the federal elections in Germany in May 2022, the next important election is already coming up.

In the most populous federal state, the parties are already preparing for the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia.

But how does the election work in NRW?

country

North Rhine-Westphalia

incumbent government

CDU and FDP

prime minister

Hendrik Wuest (CDU)

State elections in NRW 2022: will Hendrik Wüst (CDU) remain prime minister or will he have to abdicate soon?

Depending on how the elections go in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst (CDU) only sat briefly in the executive chair in the state parliament.

Because Armin Laschet (CDU) sees his future in Berlin after the failed federal election, he has given up the state presidency.

Hendrik Wüst – former state transport minister – has taken over.

But how long he will hold the post is still open.

After all, the ballot papers for the important state elections in 2022 will soon be printed in NRW.

Elections will be held in the country on May 15 - and then the cards could be completely reshuffled.

State elections in NRW 2022: That means first vote and two votes on the ballot paper

The election notifications have already been sent.

Applications for postal voting are still possible until May 13, 6:00 p.m.

Voters have a so-called first vote and a second vote.

With the first vote (left half of the ballot paper), eligible voters can decide who will become a member of parliament for the respective constituency.

The person with the most votes from their constituency becomes a deputy and is supposed to represent their place of residence there. 

Whether Hendrik Wüst (CDU) remains Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia will be decided in the state elections in May.

© Malte Krudewig/dpa

The second vote decides how strongly a party is represented in the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia, i.e. how many seats it gets.

The name "second vote" can be confusing, because this vote is actually decisive for the course of the election.

The number of second votes determines what percentage of the votes a party gets nationally.

Ballot papers in the 2022 state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia only decide indirectly on the prime minister

Just as in the Bundestag elections, voters do not have the opportunity to directly elect a head of government.

The elected parliament decides who ultimately takes over the seat from Hendrik Wüst or whether he can simply remain seated – not the citizens who are entitled to vote.

Nevertheless, there are already some top candidates who are suitable for this role: Hendrik Wüst (CDU), Thomas Kutschaty (SPD), Joachim Stamp (FDP), Mona Neubaur (Bündnis 90/Greens) and Markus Wagner (AfD) are hoping for the top position in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Video: Hendrik Wüst - this is the Prime Minister in North Rhine-Westphalia

Ballot papers in the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia can be declared invalid - this must be taken into account

In order for one of these people to get to the top at all, the vote of the voters is crucial.

It is therefore essential that the ballot paper is filled out correctly so that the vote can also be declared valid.

In fact, there are a few things to keep in mind when voting.

It's not without reason that it's time to "check your box" when the time has come on May 15th in NRW.

The "cross" is probably the safest way to cast a valid vote.

Because if you start to discover your creative streak on the ballot paper, you could be unlucky.

Eligible voters who put little hearts, smileys or other works of art on the ballot risk an invalid vote.

Voting in NRW: What can invalidate the ballot papers in the 2022 state election

In addition, according to the NRW electoral regulations for the State Personnel Representation Act, votes are invalid if:

  • the ballot paper is not folded at least once in such a way that the marking cannot be seen or, in the case of written votes pursuant to Article 16, are not submitted in an election envelope,

  • the will of the voter is not clear from the ballot papers,

  • the ballot papers contain a special feature, an addition or a reservation.

This means that the person entitled to vote is clearly only allowed to cast one first and only one second vote.

If you give more crosses, you give away your vote completely.

A myth that keeps popping up on the internet is that the ballot paper has to be signed.

This is not only wrong, but also invalidates the note in the state elections.

NRW election 2022 at Merkur.de

All important information about the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia is available in the news ticker at Merkur.de.

There you will also receive an overview of all results and the current polls on election day.

There is also everything you need to know about postal voting and election notification.

If you need some help with your voting decision, you can also use the Wahl-O-Mat.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-05-13

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