Roderich Egeler
President of the Federal Statistical Office
Press release February 17, 2009
2009 Bundestag Election: Service for Germans living abroad
Wiesbaden - As reported by the Federal Returning Officer, the application form for entry in the register of voters required by Germans living abroad who wish to participate in the 2009 Bundestag Election is available now. It is provided on the website of the Federal Returning Officer at www.bundeswahlleiter.de, 2009 Bundestag Election, under "Service for Germans living abroad".
In addition to that, detailed information is offered on the right to vote of Germans living abroad in the Election to the 17th German Bundestag on 27 September 2009.
Pursuant to the Federal Elections Act, Germans living abroad who are not registered in the Federal Republic of Germany may participate in the 2009 Bundestag Election by postal ballot provided that certain conditions are fulfilled. To this end, they personally have to file an application for entry in the voters' register with their latest home municipality in Germany by 6 September 2009 at the latest. This should be done as soon as possible if long forwarding times have to be reckoned with. Transmission by
e-mail is not permitted.
The exclusion from the right to vote of Germans having resided outside the member states of the Council of Europe for more than 25 years, which had applied in former elections, was repealed, so that they, too, may participate in the 2009 Bundestag Election.
Presumably from March 2009, the application form will be available also as a printout from all embassies and consulates of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Federal Returning Officer and all constituency returning officers in Germany. Together with their own application forms, applicants may order forms for family members, friends or colleagues. Firms and associations may request delivery of the required number of application forms for their staff abroad.
After a person has been entered in the voters' register, the documents required for postal vote will be forwarded without further request about one month before election day. All documents will have to be received by the authority indicated on the official ballot-letter envelope not later than 6 p.m. on election day, 27 September 2009.
Germans who continue to be registered in Germany during their stay abroad will ex officio be entered in the voters' register of their municipality. They may exercise their right to vote by postal ballot. To this end, they have to request in writing - also by fax or e-mail - or orally that the local authority issue a polling card. Application by telephone is not permitted.
For further information please contact:
Karina Schorn,
tel: (+49-611) 75-2317,
contact: www.destatis.de/contact