Press release no. 12/17 of 16. August 2017

Bundestag Election 2017: Application deadline for Germans abroad is 3 September

WIESBADEN – The Federal Returning Officer points to the fact that 3 September 2017 is the deadline for entering Germans abroad in the voters’ register. Being registered is the prerequisite for participation in the Bundestag election on 24 September 2017.

Adult German citizens permanently staying abroad who no longer have a place of residence in Germany and wish to vote in the 2017 Bundestag election should as soon as possible apply in writing, using a specific form, to be on the voters’ register of their last home municipality in Germany. The application must be received by the municipal authority on 3 September 2017 at the latest.

Germans who have never been registered in Germany and may be entitled to vote are requested to refer to the information for Germans abroad concerning municipalities responsible which is provided on the Federal Returning Officer’s homepage at www.bundeswahlleiter.de.

German citizens abroad who, upon request, were entered in the voters’ register for the last Bundestag election in 2013 must also file an application to register for the 2017 Bundestag election.

Further information and the application form are available from almost every mission of the Federal Republic of Germany abroad and on the website of the Federal Returning Officer.

Germans who stay abroad only temporarily (for instance while on vacation) and still have a registered domicile in Germany will be entered ex officio in the voters’ register of their municipality and may vote by post in the 2017 Bundestag election. They do not have to wait for their voter’s notification to be delivered but may apply now to their municipal authority for a polling card either in writing (also by fax of e-mail) or personally. However, it is not possible to apply by telephone. Postal voting may also be applied for by completing the application for a polling card which is printed on the back of the voter’s notification. Anyone filing the application on behalf of another person must present a written proxy.

As an exception, some German missions abroad let German voters return their postal ballot letters to Germany by the official courier service to the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. Return envelopes do not have to be stamped then. However, the Federal Foreign Office will not assume liability for any loss, damage or delayed delivery of ballot documents when the official courier service is used. Please note that the official courier service can be used every one to two weeks and delivery may take several days. For details please contact the respective mission abroad. A list of these German missions is also available on the website of the Federal Returning Officer.

For further information:
Office of the Federal Returning Officer
tel: +49 611 75-4863
www.bundeswahlleiter.de/contact