The official return envelope is sent to the postal voters by the competent local authority
together with the postal ballot documents so that it can be used to return these documents.
The official return envelope shall be red and approximately 12.0 by 17.6 cm in size. It shall
be officially produced under the authority of the government in accordance with the specimen at
Annex 11 of the Federal Electoral Regulations or the specimen at Annex 10 of the European Electoral
Regulations. It shall carry the complete address to which the official return envelope has to be
sent, the denomination of the local authority which has issued the polling card (issuing authority)
and the number of the polling card or the polling district.
The signed polling card and the sealed ballot paper envelope shall be inserted into the
official return envelope. Then it shall be posted in time.
The official return envelope does not have to be stamped.
Legal bases
Bundestag election: Section 28 (3), Section 45 (4) of the Federal Electoral Regulations
(BWO)
European election: Section 27 (3), Section 38 (4) of the European Electoral Regulations
(EuWO)
Last update: February 2011
