Voting paper crisis before the Bundestag election: Chaos in postal voting!

Voting paper crisis before the Bundestag election: Chaos in postal voting!

On February 23, 2025, the Bundestag election will take place, an election that was preferred after the political patient situation and the loss of the majority of the government coalition. Around 61 million eligible voters have the opportunity to take part in this election, be it through postal voting or in the polling station. Preparations for postal voting are in full swing, but there are significant challenges.

Currently, the municipal administrations report delays in the delivery of the ballot papers. Pfalz Express emphasizes that the Haßloch municipal administration has only received around 30% of the available ballot papers by February 6. As a result, the distribution of the postal voting documents is prioritized for the citizens who have already submitted an application for postal election.

changes in the election process

The application for postal voting documents is already possible and can be made personally, in writing or online. Apply for postal votes informs that the deadline for the application on February 21, 2025 ends at 6 p.m. In exceptional cases, an application can be made by 3 p.m. on election day, February 23. If the application is late, citizens have the option of choosing directly on site in the election service.

The required election documents, including a ballot and ballot papers, will probably only be available from February 13, 2025. Therefore, the citizens' office remains closed on February 8, 2025, and the postal vote carried out on site only begins on February 13th. The municipal administration is disappointed with the current situation that depends on the delay in the delivery delivery, and asks the citizens for patience.

new electoral system and candidacy

In addition, the voting right reform is pointed out, which brings new regulations for the 2025 federal election. Federal Center for Political Education declared that the number of Bundestag mandates is limited to 630. In the future, overhang and compensation mandates will be eliminated, which means that seats must be covered by second voices.

The distribution of the seats is in two steps: first after the second vote result and then on the state lists of the parties, with parties that receive at least 5% of the second votes or have most of the first votes in three constituencies. This could lead to candidates who receive most of the first votes not to move into the Bundestag if they are not represented on the corresponding state lists.

For the 2025 federal election, a total of 53 parties and political associations compete. Among the established parties represented in the Bundestag and at least one state parliament are SPD, Greens, CDU, Die Linke, CSU, FDP, and AfD. It remains to be seen whether the changes due to the voting right reform will influence the votes.

The municipal administration Haßloch and other local authorities will announce future updates for postal voting in good time to ensure a smooth organization of the election and a timely voice.