According to the latest figures, voter turnout has fallen.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin When the elections to the Berlin House of Representatives are repeated, turnout is lower than in the previous elections. As the state returning officer announced on Sunday afternoon, there is only a precise comparison with the election six and a half years ago.
This Sunday, the turnout up to 12 p.m. was 23.4 percent, 1.7 points lower than in the election to the House of Representatives in autumn 2016. In the House of Representatives election in September 2021, which will now be repeated, the turnout was only for the federal elections taking place at the same time have been determined. This value was 27.4 percent.
Irregularities occurred in September 2021, which is why the Berlin State Constitutional Court declared the election invalid and ordered it to be repeated. The House of Representatives and the District Assemblies are newly elected.
The re-election has no effect on the duration of the legislative period. It ends no later than five years after the first election, i.e. in 2026. The approximately 2.4 million eligible voters can cast their votes until 6 p.m. from that morning. The first forecasts can be expected shortly after the polling stations close.
The race is completely open. According to the latest surveys, the CDU is up to 25 percent ahead of the SPD of the Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (21 percent) and the Greens (18 percent). The federal capital is currently governed by a coalition of SPD, Greens and Left. Even if the CDU were to become the strongest force, it would be uncertain whether it would find a coalition partner. A very low turnout is expected after 75.4 percent on September 26, 2021, when the state elections coincided with the federal elections.
In 2021, the SPD came to 21.4 percent, the Greens to 18.9 and the left to 14.1 percent. The CDU with its top candidate Kai Wegner achieved 18 percent. The AfD received 8.0 percent of the votes, the FDP 7.1 percent.
More: Polling stations in Berlin are open