Declining Brief Voting in Thuringia Ahead of Federal Election
Thuringia, Germany – As the federal election in Germany draws near, Thuringia’s electoral authorities report a decrease in the number of potential postal voters compared to the previous election in 2021.
Fewer Postal Vote Applications
Nine days before the September 26th election, approximately 309,000 Thuringians had applied for postal voting documents, representing 18.7% of eligible voters. This is significantly lower than the 373,000 applications and 22.0% share observed at the same stage in 2021.
Tighter Deadlines Contribute to Decline
The current federal election features shorter deadlines than usual. This prompted State Electoral Commissioner Holger Poppenhäger and others to encourage voters to cast their ballots directly at polling stations. In recent years, a trend towards increased postal voting had been evident.
Low Return Rate of Postal Voting Documents
To date, only 130,000 of the 309,000 requested postal voting documents have been returned and cast. This represents a mere 42.2% return rate. Poppenhäger urges those who have not yet mailed their ballots to deposit them directly at the address indicated on the envelope.
Regional Variations in Postal Voting
The electoral authority notes significant regional disparities in the utilization of postal voting. Electoral districts encompassing larger cities tend to have higher numbers of postal voters compared to rural areas.
Highest and Lowest Postal Voting Rates
Electoral district 192 (Erfurt–Weimar–Weimarer Land II) and electoral district 190 (Jena–Sömmerda–Weimarer Land I) exhibit the highest postal voting shares, with 22.8% and 22.7%, respectively. Electoral districts 188 (Eichsfeld–Nordhausen–Kyffhäuserkreis) and 194 (Saalfeld-Rudolstadt–Saale-Holzland-Kreis–Saale-Orla-Kreis) demonstrate the lowest postal voting rates, at 16.4%.
Last-Minute Postal Voting
Individuals who intend to vote by mail should retrieve their voting documents directly from their local electoral office and complete the voting process there. Only votes deposited in designated mailboxes by 6:00 pm on election Sunday will be counted.
Lost Voting Notifications
Eligible voters who have not received or have misplaced their voting notifications can still vote by presenting their identity card or passport at the polling station. Polling stations will be open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on September 26th.
Conclusion
Thuringia’s electoral authorities anticipate a lower overall participation rate in postal voting compared to the previous federal election. Despite the decrease, postal voting remains an important option for many eligible voters who are unable to vote in person on election day.
