New elections to the Bundestag: a show of strength Bundestag elections – what does the election date depend on?

The federal and state election authorities want to discuss the preparations for the early elections to the Bundestag virtually today. They don’t know the election date yet; politics is still arguing about it. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) initially mentioned January 15th for the vote of confidence and the end of March as a possible date for the new election. The Union and FDP want an earlier date. The Chancellor recently appeared willing to talk.

Federal Returning Officer Ruth Brand warned in a letter to Scholz that shortening the already very short period of time could lead to “unforeseeable risks” at all levels, especially in the communities. A disaster like the Berlin election mishap in 2021 should be avoided at all costs.

What are the Federal Returning Officer’s fundamental concerns?

According to Article 39, the Bundestag must be re-elected within 60 days of the Federal President dissolving Parliament. Brand wants to make full use of the deadline “in order to be able to take all necessary measures in a legally secure and timely manner.” The election is essential for citizens’ trust in democracy.

What are the logistical challenges for the election?

Election committees must be appointed at district and state level, and election workers must be recruited and trained. In 2021, around 650,000 volunteer election workers were on duty at polling stations on election day and during postal voting. Voting rooms must be found and equipped; there were around 60,000 polling stations in the 2021 election.

Election notifications must be sent to over 60 million voters. In addition, there is the dispatch of postal voting documents and the establishment of postal voting districts – there were 25,000 in 2021. Brand also points out the provision and testing of the necessary IT infrastructure and the risk of cyber attacks.

The parties also have a lot to settle before the election. The candidates for the 299 constituencies must be determined, state lists drawn up and decided upon by party meetings. Smaller parties have to collect supporter signatures and have them certified by the municipalities.

What is the meeting of federal and state election officials about?

The Federal Returning Officer has “of course begun preparations for a possible new election in order to be able to overcome the challenges posed by the shortened deadlines together with everyone involved,” Brand made clear on Friday on Platform X. At the same time, there is a need to exchange information with the state election authorities.

The meeting will also focus on new procedures following a change to the federal electoral regulations. An important point here: Anyone running for the Bundestag no longer has to reveal their private address. Year of birth and place of residence are sufficient. This is intended to minimize the risk of becoming a victim of violent acts or politically motivated stalking.

Federal Returning Officer Brand’s next meeting could take place as early as Tuesday: The SPD and Green factions have requested a special public meeting of the Bundestag’s Election Audit Committee. There is a need to “discuss with the Federal Returning Officer as to when, from her point of view, the new election can take place at the earliest based on her practical experience,” says a letter of application to Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD), which is available to the German Press Agency.

How is the Union responding to the concerns?

The Union faction rejects Brand’s concerns about an earlier election date. “I can therefore only advise the Federal Returning Officer not to allow anyone to exploit her,” said Parliamentary Secretary Thorsten Frei to “Bild am Sonntag”.

Brand denied the accusation. SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich warned in the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” that the legal and practical requirements for the new election should be taken seriously.

Head of the Chancellery Wolfgang Schmidt (SPD) also warned of the risks of an earlier election date. “An incorrectly conducted election could later be challenged as unconstitutional if democratic participation rights were violated,” he wrote on Platform Eligible voters living abroad.

Can enough ballot papers be obtained in time?

Brand also addresses this point. In recent years, the procurement of paper and the commissioning of suitable printing service providers have become increasingly difficult and require longer lead times. The paper industry is opposing this. “Clear answer: Yes. If ordered on time, we can deliver the paper required for an early federal election,” says the general manager of the paper industry association, Alexander von Reibnitz, “ZDFheute.de”.

One of the main ballot paper suppliers, the Bonn printing company Köllen Druck, still sees risks with an election date in January. Mistakes always happen when printing, but there is no time for corrections with such a tight time limit, explains managing director Bastian Beeck in the magazine “Stern”. And delivery to the municipalities can only take place in January because it is not possible before Christmas and there are no shipping companies available from Christmas to New Year because the drivers, who are often foreign, are then at home. The time window for postal voting would therefore be “particularly short with such an early election date,” he says, speaking of around a week.

Election trauma Berlin – What happened in 2021?

There was a bad example on September 26, 2021. At that time, in addition to the Bundestag, state and district parliaments were also elected in Berlin, and there was also a referendum on the expropriation of housing associations. Road closures due to the Berlin Marathon also exacerbated the problems in many polling stations. There were long queues, missing or incorrect ballot papers, and some voters cast their votes after 6 p.m., when forecasts had already been published. The elections at state and district level as well as parts of the federal election ultimately had to be repeated.