Generally speaking...
5 PRINCIPLES TO MAKE IT RIGHT
What rights do you have as a citizen in an election?
Open the 5 flaps and discover the five principles of electoral law in Germany.
1) GENERAL
Anyone citizen in Germany is entitled to cast their vote in local elections (that is Lord Mayor elections and Local Council elections) as well as in European Parliament elections.
Entitled to voting are:
German citizens as defined by the German Basic Law, and EU citizens,
• of at least 16 years of age,
• having moved their principal residence to the City of Ulm at least three months ago (Local Council elections) or having a residence in any other member state of the European Union,
• who are not excluded from voting for other reasons.
Anyone entitled to vote in Local Council elections will automatically receive their election voting card by mail containing all information needed.
Please note: EU citizens residing in Germany can choose whether they would like to cast their vote in Germany or in their home country. If you choose to vote in Germany, make sure you are listed in the respective electoral register.
2) DIRECT
An election is direct if the candidates are elected directly. There are no electors in between to whom the votes (can) be transferred.
Those who are eligible to vote cannot transfer their vote to someone else or authorise someone to vote on their behalf, for example with a power of attorney.
3) FREE
Every voter decides for themselves and freely which candidate they want to vote. No one may exert pressure and influence the decision.
Every voter must be able to equally inform themselves about all candidates in order to make a free choice.
4) EQUAL
All votes that are cast count equally, regardless of who cast them. It does not matter what background or profession the voter has, whether he or she is rich or poor.
However, this was not always the case. Take a look at the wall "Democracy through the ages" to learn more.
5) SECRET
No one is allowed to know which candidate has been elected. Polling booths and ballot boxes are available in the polling stations for this purpose. For postal voting, two envelopes are provided to separate the ballot paper from the personal details. All election helpers are also sworn to secrecy.
In some elections, election polls are conducted on behalf of major television stations, among others. Under no circumstances may a name be recorded. It is only permitted to ask which candidate has been elected so that a so-called extrapolation of a result is already possible at 6 pm.
SEND GRANNY THERE!
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE ELECTION.
I'LL JUST LET MY GRANNY VOTE FOR ME. OR CAN I VOTE FOR GRANNY?
No, this is not possible, as every eligible voter must personally go to the polls and cast their vote. If your grandma is unable to go to the polls herself, she cannot issue you with a power of attorney allowing you to vote on her behalf. She can cast her vote by postal vote from home.
THOSE WHO HAVE MORE MONEY GET MORE VOTES!
In a democratic election, each eligible voter has only one vote, regardless of their financial situation. The election is anonymous and secret so that no one can influence the result. However, this was not always the case - in the past, women, journeymen, service personnel, clergy and other marginalised groups were excluded from voting.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT?
Anyone citizen in one of the 27 EU member states residing in Germany may apply as respresentative in European Parliament, if they...
• are of at least 18 years of age,
• hold the German citizenship or reside in Germany as an EU citizen or have their usual place of work and affairs there,
• and are not excluded from voting for other reasons.
The right to run for a seat in elections is referred to as passive right to vote.
If you want to run for a seat in the European Parliament elections you will need to be member in a political party or political association of any other kind. Parties and associations secretly vote their candidates and list positions beforehand. Single persons can not run for seats in European Parliament elections.
All 96 German seats in European Parliament are distributed proportionally according to proportional representation law. This means to say that seats are given in proportion to electoral percentages political parties or associations have received in the election. Depending on list positions candidates become members of European parliament or not.
VOTING IS FAR TOO COMPLICATED!
Voting in elections can seem complicated at first glance, but it is usually quick and easy. The electoral authorities provide detailed information and instructions before the election so that every eligible voter can go to the polls well informed. The election itself is usually self-explanatory and supportive staff are on hand to answer any questions.
ELECTION HELPER? I CAN'T BECOME ONE.
Yes, all eligible individuals can become an election assistant. There are no specific requirements; anyone interested can register with the relevant municipal or local authority.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LOCAL COUNCIL?
In order to be elected into the Ulm Local Council who will first have to become candidate on a party's voting list or voter's association.
Anyone entitled to vote may apply as candidate as long as they meet the formal requirements. This included having already turned at least 16 years of age and having one's primary residency in Ulm for at least three months time.
Parties of voter's associations come together and compile a voting list of up to 40 persons in secret elections. These persons may subsequently be elected. According to electoral percentages those 40 persons are elected into the Local Council that have received most votes. All others will fill vacant seats if necessary.
What rights do you have as a citizen in an election?
Open the 5 flaps and discover the five principles of electoral law in Germany.
1) GENERAL
Anyone citizen in Germany is entitled to cast their vote in local elections (that is Lord Mayor elections and Local Council elections) as well as in European Parliament elections.
Entitled to voting are:
German citizens as defined by the German Basic Law, and EU citizens,
• of at least 16 years of age,
• having moved their principal residence to the City of Ulm at least three months ago (Local Council elections) or having a residence in any other member state of the European Union,
• who are not excluded from voting for other reasons.
Anyone entitled to vote in Local Council elections will automatically receive their election voting card by mail containing all information needed.
Please note: EU citizens residing in Germany can choose whether they would like to cast their vote in Germany or in their home country. If you choose to vote in Germany, make sure you are listed in the respective electoral register.
2) DIRECT
An election is direct if the candidates are elected directly. There are no electors in between to whom the votes (can) be transferred.
Those who are eligible to vote cannot transfer their vote to someone else or authorise someone to vote on their behalf, for example with a power of attorney.
3) FREE
Every voter decides for themselves and freely which candidate they want to vote. No one may exert pressure and influence the decision.
Every voter must be able to equally inform themselves about all candidates in order to make a free choice.
4) EQUAL
All votes that are cast count equally, regardless of who cast them. It does not matter what background or profession the voter has, whether he or she is rich or poor.
However, this was not always the case. Take a look at the wall "Democracy through the ages" to learn more.
5) SECRET
No one is allowed to know which candidate has been elected. Polling booths and ballot boxes are available in the polling stations for this purpose. For postal voting, two envelopes are provided to separate the ballot paper from the personal details. All election helpers are also sworn to secrecy.
In some elections, election polls are conducted on behalf of major television stations, among others. Under no circumstances may a name be recorded. It is only permitted to ask which candidate has been elected so that a so-called extrapolation of a result is already possible at 6 pm.
SEND GRANNY THERE!
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE ELECTION.
I'LL JUST LET MY GRANNY VOTE FOR ME. OR CAN I VOTE FOR GRANNY?
No, this is not possible, as every eligible voter must personally go to the polls and cast their vote. If your grandma is unable to go to the polls herself, she cannot issue you with a power of attorney allowing you to vote on her behalf. She can cast her vote by postal vote from home.
THOSE WHO HAVE MORE MONEY GET MORE VOTES!
In a democratic election, each eligible voter has only one vote, regardless of their financial situation. The election is anonymous and secret so that no one can influence the result. However, this was not always the case - in the past, women, journeymen, service personnel, clergy and other marginalised groups were excluded from voting.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT?
Anyone citizen in one of the 27 EU member states residing in Germany may apply as respresentative in European Parliament, if they...
• are of at least 18 years of age,
• hold the German citizenship or reside in Germany as an EU citizen or have their usual place of work and affairs there,
• and are not excluded from voting for other reasons.
The right to run for a seat in elections is referred to as passive right to vote.
If you want to run for a seat in the European Parliament elections you will need to be member in a political party or political association of any other kind. Parties and associations secretly vote their candidates and list positions beforehand. Single persons can not run for seats in European Parliament elections.
All 96 German seats in European Parliament are distributed proportionally according to proportional representation law. This means to say that seats are given in proportion to electoral percentages political parties or associations have received in the election. Depending on list positions candidates become members of European parliament or not.
VOTING IS FAR TOO COMPLICATED!
Voting in elections can seem complicated at first glance, but it is usually quick and easy. The electoral authorities provide detailed information and instructions before the election so that every eligible voter can go to the polls well informed. The election itself is usually self-explanatory and supportive staff are on hand to answer any questions.
ELECTION HELPER? I CAN'T BECOME ONE.
Yes, all eligible individuals can become an election assistant. There are no specific requirements; anyone interested can register with the relevant municipal or local authority.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LOCAL COUNCIL?
In order to be elected into the Ulm Local Council who will first have to become candidate on a party's voting list or voter's association.
Anyone entitled to vote may apply as candidate as long as they meet the formal requirements. This included having already turned at least 16 years of age and having one's primary residency in Ulm for at least three months time.
Parties of voter's associations come together and compile a voting list of up to 40 persons in secret elections. These persons may subsequently be elected. According to electoral percentages those 40 persons are elected into the Local Council that have received most votes. All others will fill vacant seats if necessary.