This is how election Sunday works

On Sunday, October 15, a new Lord Mayor will be elected in Rastatt for a term of office of eight years. Monika Müller and Dr. Michael Gaska are running in the run-off election. They achieved the most votes in the first round of voting - however, neither candidate was able to achieve the required absolute majority of valid votes cast. Voting is possible in advance by postal vote or on election Sunday in the 29 polling stations from 8 am to 6 pm. The address of the polling station to be visited can be found on the election notification that all eligible voters have received by post.

Exterior view of the historic town hall in Rastatt, postal ballot box

Important questions and answers about the OB election process

What documents do voters need to bring with them to the polling station?

You must bring your polling card and your identity card or passport to the polling station.

How are the ballot papers evaluated?

Immediately after the polling stations close at 6 p.m., the respective polling districts and postal voting districts will be counted and the election results determined. The municipal electoral committee will meet publicly from 6.30 pm in the council chamber of the historic town hall. All results of the electoral districts will be checked and the overall result will be determined.

Is it possible to witness the vote count live?

Yes, the counting of votes in the polling stations is public, as is the meeting of the municipal election committee in the historic town hall to determine the overall result.

When can we expect the first results of the election?

The results from the individual constituencies will be continuously displayed on the city of Rastatt's website at www.rastatt.de from 6 pm. The city administration expects the first provisional results from 7 pm. The official election results will be available at around 8.30 pm after the municipal election committee has checked all the election results.

What else is going on in the town hall?

The provisional and finally the official result will be shown on a large screen on the market square at the entrance to the historic town hall. Experience has shown that citizens and supporters of the Lord Mayor candidate will gather in the town hall and on the market square to witness the announcement of the election results live.

How is the election result announced?

Mayor Hans Jürgen Pütsch, as Chairman of the Municipal Election Committee, announces the official election results in the Council Chamber. Afterwards, Lord Mayor Pütsch, the future Lord Mayor and the other candidates will appear on the market square. The town band will play there to congratulate them.

And what if none of the candidates received more than half of the valid votes cast?

A run-off election will then be held on Sunday, October 15, 2023, between the two people who received the most votes in the election on September 24. If the number of votes is equal, the decision will be made by drawing lots. If there is a run-off, the town band will postpone its performance until October 15.

Do voters have to apply for their voting documents again if a run-off election is necessary?

Voters who have voted at the polling station will receive their polling card back directly when they cast their vote. This must then be taken back to the polling station for a run-off election. People who did not vote on September 24 but wish to cast their vote in the run-off election simply bring their previously sent polling card with them to the run-off election.

Anyone who votes by postal vote and has applied for postal voting documents both for the election on September 24 and for a possible run-off election on October 15 will automatically receive the documents for the run-off election. Otherwise, the postal voting documents would have to be applied for again for October 15.


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