Roderich Egeler
President of the Federal Statistical Office
Press release January 21, 2009
2009 European 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 European Election in Germany is available now. It is provided on the website of the Federal Returning Officer at www.bundeswahlleiter.de, 2009 European 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 of members of the European Parliament from the Federal Republic of Germany to be held on 7 June 2009.
Pursuant to the European Elections Act, Germans living abroad who are not registered in the Federal Republic of Germany may participate in the 2009 European 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 by 17 May 2009 at the latest. This should be done as 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outside the member states of the Council of Europe for more than 25 years, which had applied in former elections, was repealed. From February/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 the constituency and town 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, 7 June 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.
In addition to that, Germans residing in one of the 26 other member states of the European Union are entitled to vote there. They can decide whether they wish to participate in the European Election in Germany or in their member state of residence. More detailed information on the conditions which have to be fulfilled for electoral participation in the member state of residence is provided by the competent authorities in that country.
For further information please contact:
Karina Schorn,
tel: (+49-611) 75-2317,
contact: www.destatis.de/contact
EU member states besides Germany:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.