The upcoming federal elections in Germany are expected to see around 59.2 million eligible voters, despite demographic declines from previous years. Certain legal restrictions, such as age and residency requirements, impact voting rights, particularly for young voters and Germans living abroad. Discussions about lowering the voting age to 16 continue, while foreign nationals, except EU citizens for local elections, are excluded from federal voting rights. The election logistics pose challenges, especially for voters outside Europe.
The upcoming federal elections will see an increase in the number of eligible voters compared to previous years. Nevertheless, the electoral law still imposes certain restrictions that can hinder voting rights. Let’s explore who these groups are and how they are impacted.
As of February 23, 2025, approximately 59.2 million citizens in Germany are projected to be eligible to vote, according to estimates from the Federal Statistical Office. This figure includes around 30.6 million women and 28.6 million men. Moreover, German citizens residing abroad also contribute to this number, indicating that the actual count of eligible voters may be higher.
The Federal Statistical Office anticipates a decline in the number of eligible voters due to demographic shifts compared to the 2021 federal elections, which recorded 61.2 million voters. In this upcoming election, the Federal Returning Officer estimates that about 2.3 million potential first-time voters will be part of the eligible voter pool, representing 3.9 percent of the total.
According to the Federal Election Law, all German citizens who turn 18 by election day and have been residents of Germany for at least three months, or who usually reside there, are eligible to vote. Furthermore, individuals who have been denied voting rights by a court due to criminal convictions are excluded from this process.
Why is the Voting Age Set at 18?
There are ongoing discussions about the possibility of lowering the voting age to 16, yet age remains a critical criterion for participating in federal elections, alongside nationality. This debate has garnered attention in both political and academic circles over the years.
While many local elections have successfully lowered the voting age to 16, only six out of 16 federal states have adopted this change for state elections thus far.
Political scientist Thorsten Faas from Berlin asserts that 16- and 17-year-olds demonstrate a level of political maturity comparable to that of young adults. His research from the Free University of Berlin in 2023 supports this notion.
Before the 2021 federal elections, various legislative initiatives sought to lower the voting age, particularly from parties like the FDP and Greens, who later formed the governing coalition. The current ruling coalition, comprising the SPD, Greens, and FDP, aimed to implement this change by 2025. However, achieving this would require a constitutional amendment that necessitates a two-thirds majority, which has proven elusive due to opposition from parties such as the Union and AfD.
The rationale behind the prohibition of voting for those under 18 hinges on perceived immaturity. However, this argument is becoming increasingly questionable in light of recent political developments, such as the inclusion of 16- to 18-year-olds in the 2024 European Parliament elections, which saw approximately 1.4 million new voters in this age group.
Regrettably, around 55,000 young individuals in Baden-Württemberg will miss the opportunity to vote in their first federal election due to the early election date in February.
Who Faces Voting Restrictions?
The shortened timelines for the upcoming federal elections pose significant challenges for Germans living abroad who wish to cast their votes. Voting from abroad has always been fraught with logistical issues, including extended postal transit times. The Foreign Office has highlighted that the compressed voting periods for this election will exacerbate these challenges, particularly for those residing outside of Europe.
Germans living abroad, often referred to as ‘Germans abroad,’ have limited voting rights unless they meet specific residency criteria. They must have lived in Germany for at least three uninterrupted months after turning 14, and their stay must not exceed 25 years, or they must demonstrate ‘personal and immediate familiarity’ with Germany’s political conditions.
However, being part of this group does not guarantee automatic registration in the voter rolls. Those wishing to vote must submit a written application to register in the voter rolls of their local municipality ahead of each election.
Only individuals registered in the voter rolls can participate in the elections. This requirement may be particularly tight this time due to the advanced election date. The Foreign Office estimates that three to four million Germans abroad are eligible to vote, but due to the lack of registration requirements outside Germany, these figures remain estimations. To ensure timely receipt of election materials, the Foreign Office advises prompt registration.
Details regarding the deadlines for Germans living abroad during the federal elections and the possibility of voting at embassies are still being clarified.
As of now, the Federal Returning Officer has not disclosed how many Germans abroad intend to participate in the upcoming elections. A clearer picture will emerge after February 2, 2025, the cut-off date for registration in the voter rolls, when municipal authorities will relay the necessary data.
Typically, many municipalities will delay sending out election documents until after February 10. Given the additional processing time required for these documents to reach the German embassies abroad, the timeline poses a significant challenge, as direct voting at embassies is not permitted under German electoral law.
In the last federal election in 2021, roughly 129,000 Germans abroad applied for voter registration, with about 85 percent of applications submitted from Europe.
Germans who are temporarily abroad, such as on extended vacations, remain registered in their home municipalities and are automatically included in the voter rolls. They can vote via absentee ballot.
Due to the early election date on February 23, there are concerns that election materials may arrive too late for those abroad.
Do Foreigners Have Voting Rights?
Foreign nationals without German citizenship are not entitled to vote in federal elections, state elections, or referendums at either the federal or state level.
However, EU citizens do have the right to vote in local elections under EU law. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, there is no obligation for states to grant voting rights to EU citizens in Bundestag elections or state parliament elections.
On a national scale, the question of voting rights for foreigners remains a complex issue that continues to evolve.