Information for voters

The German Bundestag is elected in accordance with the principles of proportional representation in combination with a candidate-centred election. This is also called personalized proportional representation. Under this system, each voter has two votes.

Germans staying abroad who do not have a registered domicile in Germany are not automatically entered into a voters’ register. If they wish to participate in Bundestag elections, they have to submit a written application for entry into the voters’ register.

Persons entitled to vote who are entered in a voters’ register do not need a specific reason to exercise their right to vote by post. To this end, they have to apply for a polling card to be issued.

A voter’s notification informs those eligible to vote that they have been entered in the voter’s register.