Federal election on February 23rd: Who can actually vote?

This time, almost 60 million people are allowed to vote in the federal election – according to the Federal Statistical Office, at least 59.2 million Germans are expected to be eligible to vote.

But who exactly is that? And what are the requirements for being able to cast your vote on election Sunday?

The basic rule is that all people who have German citizenship and are of legal age are eligible to vote. So you must be at least 18 years old on election day. So anyone who celebrates their 18th birthday on February 23, 2025 can have a say in the next Bundestag.

By the way, there was a different age limit in last year’s European elections – people were allowed to vote from the age of 16.

For Germans who live in Germany, the whole thing is relatively simple: you are on the electoral roll and automatically receive a voting notification.

But what about German citizens living abroad? Of course they can also vote, but the whole thing is a little more complicated. Because they must first be registered in the voters’ register before the federal election.

And there is a deadline that must be adhered to: as the Federal Returning Officer points out, this ends on February 2nd. You have to apply for the entry at the home municipality where you were last registered in Germany.

This rule applies to – almost – all Germans who no longer have a place of residence in the Federal Republic, i.e. who live permanently in another country. Things can get more complicated if you haven’t lived in Germany for several decades.

According to the rule, all Germans of legal age who have previously lived in Germany for at least three months without interruption are entitled to register. However, this must not have been more than 25 years ago. Then you have to prove a “personal and direct familiarity with the political conditions in the Federal Republic of Germany”. This is only possible via applications that are submitted in the original by post.

Important to know: You must be registered in the voters’ register in order to be able to vote in the federal election on February 23rd. People who live abroad and have already been registered in the electoral roll for a previous election must therefore register again for the upcoming federal election.

The application form is available and can be downloaded there. The handwritten, signed applications must be sent in the original by post or by fax or email to the responsible local authority within the deadline.

But: Anyone who only lives abroad temporarily but is registered in Germany is already listed on the electoral roll. You should still apply for the postal voting documents as early as possible – so that you can vote in the federal election and the votes arrive on time.

Sources: with agencies (DPA, AFP),