Voting in the European elections is quite simple for voters: on June 9th, all they have to do is mark a cross on the ballot paper. How the offer comes about on paper is more complicated.
More seats in parliament and a lower voting age for Germany: The 2024 European elections will bring new features compared to the last election. For the first time, 16- and 17-year-olds in Germany will be allowed to vote for one of the 35 parties and other political associations. 34 are running in all federal states, only in Bavaria is the CSU running, in all other states its sister party, the CDU, will run instead.
In contrast to the federal election, eligible voters only have one vote. This means that they must mark one box on the ballot paper. The layout of the ballot papers is different in each federal state: first, the parties are arranged according to their performance in the last European elections. Then the parties and associations that did not stand in this election are listed.
CDU with most top positions on the ballot papers
The CDU takes first place on the ballot papers in nine states (Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia). They are followed by the Greens, who are at the top of the ballot papers in three states (Berlin, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein). Then comes the AfD in two states (Brandenburg and Saxony), as well as the SPD in Bremen and the CSU in Bavaria.
Further down you will find the newly founded “Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht” (BSW) and associations such as the climate organization “Last Generation” and the “Democratic Alliance for Diversity and Awakening” (DAVA).
No percentage clause yet in this European election
Unlike in federal elections, even small German parties with a low single-digit election result can enter the EU Parliament. This is because there is no predetermined percentage hurdle to be reached. A threshold will only be reintroduced at the next European elections in 2029, which will then be at least two percent. In June 2023, the Bundestag voted with the necessary two-thirds majority to introduce a threshold in the European elections.
In other EU countries, the situation is different: Cyprus sets the threshold at 1.8 percent, Greece at 3 percent. Parties in Italy, Austria and Sweden must achieve at least 4 percent. A 5 percent hurdle applies in France, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, among others. Because of Brexit, Great Britain is not taking part in a European election for the first time.
From this year onwards, more members will be allowed to sit in the European Parliament – 720 seats will be occupied instead of the previous 705. Germany currently has the largest bloc with 96 members.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
