Wahlhelfer; Berufung

Brief description

As honorary members of the electoral and postal ballot boards, electoral assistants are responsible for the proper conduct of elections and votes and for determining and establishing the results.

Without a large number of volunteer electoral assistants, it would not be possible to hold elections and referendums (European, Bundestag, state and local elections, referendums at state level and referendums at local level). Being an electoral volunteer is therefore an honorable task for all citizens who are entitled to vote.

Between 100,000 and 150,000 volunteer electoral assistants are needed for nationwide elections and votes. These are members of the electoral bodies (electoral boards or postal ballot boards), which are formed in the municipalities for each voting district (polling station). Each electoral board or postal ballot board usually consists of five to nine members; there are various functions (chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary and other assessors).

You have the following tasks:

Ensure the proper conduct of the election
Verification of eligibility to vote on the basis of the electoral roll
Issue of ballot papers
Note on participation in the electoral roll
Release of the ballot box for insertion of the ballot paper
Determination of the election result, which is reported to the municipality
Preparation of minutes on the conduct of the election and the determination of the election result

The electoral boards must make preparations before the polling stations open at 8:00 am. The polling stations are open until 18:00. This is followed by the count. Depending on the size of the election, this can last until after midnight. In the case of municipal and district elections, the count continues on the Monday after the election if necessary.

The electoral boards and therefore the electoral assistants are appointed by the municipalities. They receive a letter of appointment with information material in good time before the election or vote. Training courses are usually held for election officers, secretaries and their deputies.

Working as an election assistant is a voluntary activity. If there are not enough volunteers, anyone who is eligible to vote can be obliged to take on an honorary electoral office. This can only be refused for good cause.

Important reasons include

urgent professional or family reasons
Illness or physical impairment
another important reason that prevents the person entitled to vote from properly exercising the office.

The decision as to whether an important reason exists is made by the competent electoral authority. The person entitled to vote is obliged to provide evidence for this. Poll workers may be granted a refreshment allowance as compensation for expenses. The amount is determined by the respective municipality.

If you are interested in serving as an electoral officer, please contact your municipality in good time before an election or vote.

Prerequisites

Poll workers must always be eligible to vote in the respective election; as a rule, only those eligible to vote in the respective municipality are appointed as poll workers, even for supra-local (state-wide) elections.

To be eligible to vote, the following requirements must be met:

Minimum age on election day: 18 years
for European elections: 16 years
for European, Bundestag, Landtag and district elections as well as referendums: generally registered for at least 3 months with main residence in the respective electoral area
in municipal and district elections and referendums: Residence for at least 2 months with the focus of living relations in the electoral district
in European elections, municipal and district elections: Germans and EU nationals (EU citizens)
in federal, state and district elections and referendums: German

Electoral officer; appointment

Brief description

Description

Prerequisites

Legal basis

Responsible departments