Bundestag election
How is chosen in jail?
Can thieves, murderers and fraudsters for the Bundestag election? Around 43,000 people sit in German prisons. How can you give up your voices?
The Federal Election Act is clear: “All Germans (…) who have reached the age of eighteen on election days are entitled to vote (…)” Millions will go to the polling stations on February 23 to choose a new Bundestag. However, tens of thousands of voters will be denied this path through cell doors and high walls – they are in prison. Can you choose at all – and how does it work?
In principle, the inmates in German correctional facilities (JVA) may also take part in the Bundestag election, provided they have German citizenship and are of legal age. As of March 1, 2024, around 43,000 adults were in prison in Germany, and Germans were Germans.
In order to enable them to vote, there are three variants:
- According to the Federal Election Act, the competent municipality can be for the JVA Special voting district furnish. In this case, a polling station would be set up behind the prison walls to have the detainees participate in the election. This procedure is also possible for senior citizens’ residential complexes, for example. In practice, however, it is almost never used in German prisons.
- Instead, the prisoners – like all other voters – have the opportunity to Postal vote to participate in the Bundestag election, as the Ministry of Justice of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania explains. In this case, the detainees receive the ballot in the detention center in this case, take their crosses there and then send the election documents to the responsible election point.
- Whoever has been granted to the relief of prison, your vote can also be found on the election Sunday as part of a permitted Free -range or of the open execution Submit directly in the polling station.
However, there are also a manageable number of prisoners who are German and of legal age – and still not be allowed to vote. Anyone who has been convicted of a political crime (for example high treason, use of indicators of unconstitutional organizations or briefing) can lose the right to vote by judge.
wire
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.
