There is no statutory obligation to vote in the Federal Republic of Germany in contrast to other
countries such as Belgium, Greece and Luxembourg. There, a citizen will for instance be fined if he
or she abstains from voting without a sufficient reason. According to the German concept, a
statutory obligation to vote would contradict the freedom to vote.
It goes without saying that there is a certain moral obligation to participate in elections
(“The right to vote is an obligation to vote“).
Last update: March 2008
©2012 The Federal Returning Officer