Berlin Districts to Send Out Voter Notification Cards for the Repeat Election Starting Monday

Previously, applying for postal voting was only possible by mail. With the sending of the notifications, the districts are expanding the options: Applications can now also be submitted online, by email – providing name, registered address, and date of birth – or in person at a postal voting office in the district. This was announced by the state election office via the broadcaster RBB.

In concrete terms, this means: Those who have already applied for the postal voting documents will now have the ballot papers sent to them. At the same time, postal vote applications can now also be submitted through the new digital and in-person channels. According to the available information, the statement reads verbatim: "Diejenigen, die die Stimmzettel für die Briefwahl bereits beantragt haben, das ging bisher nur per Post, bekommen sie nun zugeschickt. Gleichzeitig können Briefwahlanträge jetzt auch online, per E-Mail (mit Name, Meldeadresse und Geburtsdatum) oder persönlich in einer Briefwahlstelle des Bezirks gestellt werden."

Background: The Repeat Election in Berlin

The background to this expansion is the repeat election in Berlin. Since the original House of Representatives election was declared invalid, voters in the capital must go to the polls once again. With the additional option of submitting postal vote applications digitally or on site, the districts are responding to the expected high turnout.

The districts stated that the additional channels are primarily intended to make access easier for those eligible voters who cannot easily visit a post office or frank a letter. Applying in person at a postal voting office also makes it possible to clarify questions directly, for example about the correct address of the polling station.

Information Required in the Application and Legal Requirements

The state election office pointed out that providing a name, registered address, and date of birth is sufficient to submit a postal vote application through the new channels. This is intended to ensure that only eligible persons can submit an application. The deadlines for postal voting are based on the legal requirements of the state electoral law.

With the mailing of the voter notification cards, the time pressure is now also increasing: Eligible voters who wish to vote by mail must submit their applications in good time so that the ballot papers reach them before election day and can be returned filled out.

Impact on Voter Turnout

Overall, it is evident that the districts want to cushion the administrative effort of the repeat election with additional digital offerings. Observers interpret the expansion of application channels as a signal that turnout for postal voting could be particularly high in this election.

The exact election date and the final deadlines will be announced through the voter notification cards and the districts' communications to eligible voters. The state election office and the district electoral offices are also preparing for a rush at the postal voting offices.