Berlin State Returning Officer: Online application for absentee ballots accessible again

Background to the technical disruption

The brief restriction was due to a technical disruption, according to information from the State Election Office. Details about the cause and duration of the interruption were not initially made public in full. According to DPA, Czerny emphasized that the process is now running stably and can be used for applications.

The online portal is part of the services offered by the Berlin State Election Office for the upcoming House of Representatives election as well as the parallel elections to the Bezirksverordnetenversammlungen (BVV – district assemblies). Via the portal, eligible voters can apply for their ballot card and subsequently have the absentee ballot documents sent to them by post.

As in previous years, a deadline applies for exercising the right to vote by absentee ballot. Eligible voters should note, according to the electoral information provided by the State Election Office, that the absentee ballot documents must be applied for and returned in good time so that the vote is taken into account during the count.

What eligible voters should know

According to the authority, the sending of the voter notification cards to eligible voters has also begun as planned. Those who have not received a notification can contact the responsible district election office or use the online application to obtain the necessary documents. In addition to absentee voting, in-person voting at polling stations on election day itself remains possible.

The Berlin House of Representatives election is the state election of the city-state of Berlin and takes place regularly every five years. The members of the Berlin parliament are elected, as are the members of the district assemblies in Berlin's twelve districts simultaneously. In earlier statements, Senator for the Interior Iris Spranger had emphasized the importance of smooth election preparation.

According to the State Election Office, eligible voters who wish to apply for a ballot card via the online portal need to provide their personal details as well as the information printed on the voter notification. The process is encrypted and free of charge. After receipt of the ballot card, the absentee ballot documents are generally delivered by post within a few working days.

Outlook on the September election date

With a view to the election date, the State Election Office recommends submitting the application as early as possible in order to compensate for any delays in postal delivery. Experience shows that demand for absentee ballot documents rises significantly in the last few days before the election, so applying earlier makes reliable delivery easier.

According to its own statements, the Berlin State Election Office continues to monitor the technical stability of the portal. Should any disruptions occur again, information would be provided at short notice, it said. Until then, the digital service is once again available without restrictions.