When can you choose? These are the requirements

Over 60 million people are eligible to vote with us, 9.5 million in the Bavarian election alone. We have summarized in this article from when you can choose and which requirements you need to bring with you.

When can you choose? Bavaria election and federal election

• In order to participate in elections in Germany, you must have German citizenship.
• Another minimum requirement for casting the vote for the Bundestag election is a minimum age of 18 years. In some federal states such as Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein, you can vote in state elections from the age of 16. You must be at least 18 years old to vote in Bavaria.
• In addition, you have had to live in Germany for at least three months. There are special regulations for soldiers or seafarers, for example. In the Bayern election, you must live in Bavaria at least 3 months before the election (be registered).
• If you live as a German abroad, you can choose the Bundestag if you have lived in Germany for at least three months without interruption after the age of 14 and if it was not longer than 25 years ago.
• As a rule, inmates of prisons have also not forfeited their right to vote. However, they will not get an exit on election Sunday, but will participate in postal voting beforehand.
• Only those who have been excluded from the election by a judicial decision, for example, in accordance with Section 13 of the Federal Election Act, may not cast their vote.
• If you are physically or visually impaired, you can of course also take part in the election. Either in advance via postal vote or on election Sunday directly in the polling station. For example, many polling stations have set up wheelchair ramps. Otherwise, the election workers on site will be happy to assist you.
• Blind voters have had special voting aids for several years so that they can vote without the help of other people.

More about the 2018 Bayern election

• First vote in the Bavarian election has several meanings
• Second vote in the Bavarian election: more influence for citizens
• Live ticker for choosing FOCUS Online