Bundestag election 2025: Why not choose your own damage yourself

Have you already decided who you choose on February 23? Or do you plan not to go to the election at all? Of course, the decision lies with you. But also not choosing the election result of the federal elections affects more than many think. Because the non -voters form a large group. And their missing ballot papers in the ballot box can end up strengthening extreme parties – and weakening democracy.

In fact, the number of non -voters in federal elections is remarkable: In 2021, 23.6 percent of the citizens entitled to vote waived their voice – that was 14,465,428 eligible voters. In 2009, even 29.2 percent did not choose.

But who are these non -voters? According to (FES), they regularly provide the largest group of voters. Their social situation plays a role in this: Voter turnout is often lower in poorer parts of the city and constituencies, according to the FES.

“Behind the decision not to vote is in many cases a feeling of powerlessness and a distance to those who make political decisions,” continued the FES. However, if people believed that with their voice they could not have any significant influence on political decisions, in addition to the decision not to vote, for many to choose parties on the sidelines of the political spectrum. This is also reflected in the election results: In addition to the SPD, the Left Party and AfD cut best where the turnout is low.

This is a problem for democracy itself. It needs a minimum of citizen participation to work. Otherwise the government will come into legitimation, it says on an archived side of the ES. The voice that has not been submitted has great influence – often in favor of parties that the non -voters themselves would not support. “The amount of the turnout has an impact on the election result: Ultimately, non -voters always support the election winner, whether they want it or not,” is the explanation.

But how? From the non -election, all parties that you would normally have not chosen benefit from the non -election benefit to their voting proportion, the experts explainof the side. You have an example ready: “If, for example, an SPD voter does not choose, then the CDU should benefit the most, and vice versa.” But you have to do the most of the party you would have chosen, you would have gone to the election. If an otherwise loyal SPD voter stays at home, the SPD logically harms.

A calculation example: If 100 people go to choose from and 20 of them choose party A, it gets 20 percent. But only 80 out of 100 people go to choose from, but all 20 still choose party A, then this party gets 25 percent of the vote.

If citizens of the ballot box stay away, small and extreme parties benefit.These received an "additional effect" by non -voters, according to the Wahlrecht.de page. The five percent hurdle is lowered somewhat by abstaining or invalid voting, so that it is easier to overcome. However, the effect is comparatively low.

Let's count on the example above. If only four party B of 100 people choose, it is under the percentage hurdle and would not come to parliament. If 80 people would vote again, but still four party B, they would come to five percent - and would be in parliament.

The political association warns that do not choose right -wing extremists favor. These are very good at mobilizing voters. So the more votes fall on such parties and the lower the turnout at the same time, the more percentage you get in the end - and with it more seats, according to the argument. The arguments that non -voters also make political influence easier. A high turnout could prevent a "bad awakening".

But also does not have an impact on your own situation. If, above all, socially disadvantaged stays at home while better votes, the turnout does not reflect society. The lower the turnout, the less often the arms and far -educated people as well as people with a migration background go to the choice. They are then underrepresented compared to their population. This also shows in political practice, explained political scientist Robert Vehrkamp im. Housing policy has been more oriented towards owners than tenants in recent decades.

Anyone who does not go to election still gives off their vote, albeit unconsciously and unwanted. Because the non -voter also contributes to the election result - and thus to politics that will determine our life in the next few years.

There is no election abstain in Germany. If you don't want to support a party, you could invalidate the ballot. But that changes little. Because only the valid voices are counted. The percentages of the parties are only calculated with them. An invalid voice increases the turnout because it appears in the statistics. As a result, parties need less absolute votes to achieve higher percentages. Voting invalid is therefore hardly better than not choosing at all.

Note: This article was first published on June 3, 2024 on the occasion of the European elections and was updated and adapted on the occasion of the 2025 Bundestag election.