Questions on: The Federal Election: First Vote, Second Vote, 5 Per Cent Threshold

In Germany, with the first vote you elect a person in your constituency, with the second vote a party. Both votes are cast in every federal election.

On election day, voluntary helpers support the election board in the polling stations. Under the Federal Elections Act, election day is a Sunday or a public holiday.

In Germany, tens of thousands of polling districts have been set up, each run by an election board. The helpers work on a voluntary basis.

The first German Federal Parliament (Bundestag) was elected on 14 August 1949. Since 1999 the parliament has met in the Reichstag building in Berlin.

Federal elections recur at fixed intervals laid down by the Basic Law (Grundgesetz). Early new elections are possible only in cases regulated by law.

Under the Basic Law (Grundgesetz), the legislative term ends only with the first sitting of a new Federal Parliament (Bundestag). Until then the existing Federal Parliament remains in office.

The Basic Law (Grundgesetz) lays down that federal elections must be universal and direct. How the will of the voters is converted into seats is regulated by the Federal Elections Act.

In the federal election, the second vote is decisive for the distribution of seats among the parties. The first vote decides direct mandates in the constituencies.

Electoral systems regulate how votes become seats in parliament. Under majority voting, the person with the most votes in a constituency wins. Under proportional representation, parties receive as many seats as correspond to their share of the votes. In a federal election you have two votes: the first vote for a person in the constituency and the second vote for a party. Earlier systems such as the Prussian three-class franchise gave wealthy citizens more weight.

The rules for federal elections are in the Federal Elections Act. The Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) examines whether they are compatible with the Basic Law (Grundgesetz). They are repeatedly the subject of public debate.

In the federal election there are constituencies in which direct candidates stand, and in addition the parties’ state lists are elected. Both votes together shape the election result.

In Germany, people entitled to vote generally do not have to register themselves before an election, because the electoral register is kept automatically by the authorities.

Electoral rules must comply with the principle of equality of the vote, and the Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) checks them against it. Deviations from it are permitted only for compelling reasons.

With the ballot paper for the federal election you cast two votes: on the left the first vote for a person in the constituency, on the right the second vote for a party. A ballot paper is valid if the voter’s intention is clearly recognisable. Anyone who puts more than one cross in a column, writes something on it or marks the paper makes the vote invalid.

After each federal election, the Federal Returning Officer publishes the results in all constituencies. The official final result is formally determined and announced later.