Services

Contestation of the election

If there are indications that a Bundestag election or a European election is invalid or that the rights of voters or candidates have been violated in the election procedure, electoral scrutiny by the Bundestag is an option. If the electoral scrutiny procedure is not successful, an electoral complaint may be lodged with the Federal Constitutional Court.

Errors in the electoral procedure may only be contested by means of the legal remedies provided by the Federal Elections Act and the Federal Electoral Regulations (Bundestag elections) or the European Elections Act and the European Electoral Regulations (European elections).

Legal bases

Bundestag election:

Article 41 of the Basic Law (GG)
Section 13 no. 3, Section 48 of the Federal Constitutional Court Act (BVerfGG)
Law on the Scrutiny of Elections (WPrüfG)
Section 49 of the Federal Elections Act (BWG)


European election:

Section 26 of the European Elections Act (EuWG)
Section 13 no. 3, Section 48 of the Federal Constitutional Court Act (BVerfGG)
Law on the Scrutiny of Elections (WPrüfG)

Last update: 10 April 2017