Berlin election 2026: How homeless residents can cast their vote

People who are homeless and therefore not registered at a permanent address in Berlin can apply for entry in the electoral roll using an alternative residence, such as a shelter or a regular place where they stay. The application must be submitted to the Bezirkswahlamt in the district where they usually spend their time. Applicants need to provide identification and, where possible, proof of their connection to the chosen district. The deadline for so-called von Amts wegen or application-based registration falls in the weeks before election day; specific cut-off dates are published by each Bezirkswahlamt.

For voters who cannot easily reach a polling station on 20 September, Berlin offers two main alternatives: the use of a Wahlbrief, allowing postal voting, and the issuing of Wahlscheine that permit voting in any polling station within the city rather than a specific assigned one. Bröchler noted that homeless individuals can also designate a representative to collect their voting documents, a provision that aid workers say is particularly useful for people moving between emergency shelters or sleeping rough.

Aid organisations say the administrative pathway, while established, is unfamiliar to many of those it is meant to serve. Outreach workers distribute flyers and explain the steps in shelters, soup kitchens and street-level services. The Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Wohnungslosenhilfe, the umbrella body for homelessness services in Germany, has called on local authorities, charities and political parties to make extra efforts to inform homeless residents of their rights before the registration deadline closes.

Calls for greater outreach

A spokesperson for the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Wohnungslosenhilfe told reporters that politics at the state and municipal level directly affects the living situation of homeless people, making it especially important that they can cast their vote. In a statement carried by the Deutsche Presse-Agentur, the spokesperson said: "Umso wichtiger ist es, dass auch wohnungslose Menschen ihre Stimme abgeben können." The organisation argues that issues such as winter cold-weather planning, shelter funding and social-housing allocation are decided in the Abgeordnetenhaus and the Bezirksverordnetenversammlungen, the district assemblies.

Berlin's Bezirke, the twelve administrative districts, run the local Wahlämter that process alternative-registration requests. Several districts have in past elections partnered with charities to host information sessions at shelters. Bröchler's office said it would again coordinate with district authorities to ensure that polling stations are reachable for voters who rely on foot travel or limited public transport on election day.

The Landeswahlleiter also reminded voters that anyone who is registered — whether at a conventional address or through the alternative-residence procedure — can apply for a Wahlschein up to a few days before the election. The Wahlschein allows voting by post or in person at any polling station in the district. Aid groups say the flexibility matters because many homeless Berliners move between districts during the year and may not be near their assigned station on the day.

Historical context and remaining challenges

Election observers note that homeless people's participation in German state elections has historically been low, partly because of the procedural complexity and partly because of mistrust of official institutions. Berlin has, in recent cycles, expanded outreach efforts, but advocacy organisations continue to argue that more needs to be done. The Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Wohnungslosenhilfe is urging parties campaigning for the Abgeordnetenhauswahl to address homelessness directly in their platforms and to communicate practical voting information to people living on the Straße.

Bröchler's office said the final list of polling-station locations and information about postal-voting procedures will be published on the Landeswahlleiter's website in the coming weeks. The office also encouraged anyone unsure of their registration status to contact their local Bezirkswahlamt or to consult outreach staff at welfare organisations for help with the application.

With campaigning for the 20 September vote under way, the question of voting access for homeless residents has become a small but recurring theme. Both officials and aid groups say the procedural rules already in place are sufficient if used — what is missing, they argue, is awareness among the voters themselves and consistent outreach by the Bezirke and partner organisations.