The explanation of this term is still based on the Federal Elections Act valid for the 2021 Bundestag election. This page will be updated shortly in view of the most recent amendment to the Federal Elections Act.

Supporting signatures

There are nominations of candidates in Bundestag and European elections which have to be signed by a fixed number of persons entitled to vote. By signing, these people show that they are in favour of the nomination. This is to ensure that only serious nominations of candidates can be voted for which have a reasonable number of supporters amongst the electorate.

In the case of established political parties it can be assumed that there is a sufficient number of supporters among the voters. Therefore, they do not have to submit supporting signatures.

Bundestag elections

Constituency nomination

Constituency nominations of non-established parties, that is parties which have not been continuously represented in the Bundestag or a Land parliament by at least five deputies since the last election to that assembly on the basis of nominations made by the party itself, and constituency nominations of single persons entitled to vote or groups of voters, require the personal and handwritten supporting signatures of at least 200 people entitled to vote in the relevant constituency. A form as per Annex 14 of the Federal Electoral Regulations has to be used for this purpose. It can be obtained free of charge from the respective constituency returning officer. Constituency nominations by parties may be signed only after the candidate has been nominated by an assembly of members or delegates. Otherwise, the signatures will be invalid.

Together with the signature, a certificate issued by the municipal authority has to be provided which states that the signatory is entitled to vote in the constituency in question. German expatriates have to complete Annex 2 of the Federal Electoral Regulations for the purpose.

The supporting signatures are collected by the party and have to be submitted to the respective returning officer in the original, together with the nomination, until the 69th day before the election at the latest.

A person entitled to vote may sign only one constituency nomination. Signatures on further constituency nominations will be invalid.

Land list

Land lists of non-established parties have to be signed personally and by hand by at least 0.1 % of the persons entitled to vote in the respective Land at the last Bundestag election, but by no more than 2,000 persons eligible to vote.

Minimum number of valid supporting signatures for Land lists to be provided for the 2021 Bundestag election by persons entitled to vote
Land	Number
Baden-Württemberg	2,000
Bayern	2,000
Berlin	2,000
Brandenburg	2,000
Bremen	474
Hamburg	1,297
Hessen	2,000
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	1,325
Niedersachsen	2,000
Nordrhein-Westfalen	2,000
Rheinland-Pfalz	2,000
Saarland	777
Sachsen	2,000
Sachsen-Anhalt	1,855
Schleswig-Holstein	2,000
Thüringen	1,767

A form as per Annex 21 of the Federal Electoral Regulations has to be used for this purpose. It may be obtained free of charge from the Land returning officer. The above information on supporting signatures for constituency nominations also apply to Land lists.

Legal bases

Section 20 (2), (3), Section 27 of the Federal Elections Act (BWG)
Section 34 (4) to (6), Section 39 (3) to (5) of the Federal Electoral Regulations (BWO)

European Parliament elections

Supporting signatures have to be submitted for nominations of parties or other political associations which have not been continuously represented by at least five deputies in the European Parliament, the Bundestag or a Land parliament since the last election to that assembly on the basis of nominations made by the party itself.

Lists for individual Länder require the personal and handwritten supporting signatures of at least 0.1 % of the persons entitled to vote in the last European election in the respective Land, but of no more than 2,000 persons eligible to vote.

Minimum number of valid supporting signatures for individuel Land lists to be provided for the 2024 European Parliament election by persons entitled to vote
Land	Number
Baden-Württemberg	2,000
Bayern	2,000
Berlin	2,000
Brandenburg	2,000
Bremen	471
Hamburg	1,303
Hessen	2,000
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	1,317
Niedersachsen	2,000
Nordrhein-Westfalen	2,000
Rheinland-Pfalz	2,000
Saarland	768
Sachsen	2,000
Sachsen-Anhalt	1,827
Schleswig-Holstein	2,000
Thüringen	1,741

Lists for all Länder must bear the signatures of at least 4,000 persons entitled to vote. The supporting signatures have to be entered on a form as per Annex 14 of the European Electoral Regulations. Forms to be used for lists for all Länder are available free of charge from the Federal Returning Officer, forms for lists for one Land from the respective Land returning officer.

Nominations may be signed only after the candidates and substitute candidates have been nominated by an assembly of members or delegates. Otherwise, the signatures will be invalid.

Together with the signature, a certificate has to be provided which states that the signatory is entitled to vote in the land in question. Such certificate is issued by the municipal authority where the respective person is entitled to vote. Germans living abroad have to provide evidence of their voting eligibility to the municipal authority by furnishing the information as per Annex 2 to the European Electoral Regulations and by giving an affirmation in lieu of an oath; Union citizens have to complete Annex 14A of the European Electoral Regulations.

The supporting signatures are collected by the party and have to be submitted to the respective returning officer in the original, together with the nomination, until the 83rd day before the election at the latest.

A person entitled to vote may sign only one nomination. Signatures on further nominations will be invalid.

Legal bases

Section 9 (5) of the European Elections Act (EuWG)
Section 32 (3) of the European Electoral Regulations (EuWG)

Last update: 13 February 2023