Mayoral and municipal council elections; information on implementation
Brief description
The first mayor and the municipal council members are generally elected for 6 years. Depending on the size of the municipality, between 8 and 80 municipal councillors are elected.
Description
In the election of municipal councillors, voters generally have as many votes as there are seats to be filled. There is the option of cumulation, i.e. up to 3 votes can be given to individual candidates. In addition, voters can also cast a plurality of votes, i.e. votes can be allocated to candidates from different lists.
Voters have one vote in the election of the first mayor.Prerequisites
Voting rights and eligibility
In principle, all Germans and all nationals of other Member States of the European Union who have reached the age of 18 on election day, have resided in the municipality for at least two months as the main focus of their life and are not excluded from the right to vote may vote.
Anyone wishing to be elected as a municipal councillor must be a citizen of the European Union on election day, have reached the age of 18 and have lived in the municipality for at least three months, which does not have to be their main residence, or have usually resided in the electoral district without having a residence. These requirements must also be met by anyone wishing to be elected to the office of honorary first mayor, whereby they must be German within the meaning of Art. 116 Para. 1 of the Basic Law. Anyone who has neither a home nor their habitual residence in the municipality can also be elected as professional first mayor. There must be no disqualification from eligibility either for election as a municipal councillor or for election as first mayor.
You can find out more from your municipality.Deadlines
Numerous deadlines must be observed when preparing and conducting the municipal election.
Please ask your municipality for more details.Costs
The costs of municipal elections are generally borne by the municipalities.Legal basis
- Act on the Election of Municipal Councillors, Mayors, County Councils and District Councillors (Municipal and District Election Act - GLKrWG)
- Electoral regulations for municipal and district elections (municipal and district electoral regulations - GLKrWO)
- Implementation of the Municipal and District Election Act and the Municipal and District Election Regulations (Municipal and District Election Announcement - GLKrWBek) - Announcement by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, for Sport and Integration dated May 7, 2019
- Art. 31 Municipal Code for the Free State of Bavaria (Gemeindeordnung - GO)
Composition of the municipal council
Legal remedy
Election challenge (Art. 51 GLKrWG), administrative court action (Art. 51a GLKrWG)Further links