Partial repeat of the district council and municipal council elections and repeat of the local council elections - Important questions and answers
On Sunday, October 20, 2024, the partial repeat of the district council and municipal council elections in the districts as well as the repeat of the local council elections from June 9, 2024 will take place.
The regional council declared the district council and municipal council elections in the constituencies in the local districts and the local council elections invalid in its election audit notice dated July 16, 2024. As postal voting documents were not sent out in the local districts for the election on June 9, 2024, repeat elections must be held here. This includes repeating the postal vote in the respective electoral districts.
In the core city, the election results of the district council and municipal council elections of June 9, 2024 are valid; no new elections will be held here.
At its meeting on July 22, 2024, the municipal council subsequently ordered a repeat election in the localities and set the election date. The (partial) repeat election will take place on the basis of the main election.
In which constituencies will the (partial) rerun take place?
The partial repeat election of the district council and municipal council will be held for the following electoral districts (including postal voting):
- 009-01 Niederbühl 1
- 009-02 Niederbühl 2
- 009-03 Förch
- 010-01 Ottersdorf 1
- 010-02 Ottersdorf 2
- 011-01 Plittersdorf 1
- 011-02 Plittersdorf 2
- 012-01 Rauental
- 013-01 Wintersdorf 1
- 013-02 Wintersdorf 2
The repeat elections for the local council elections in Niederbühl, Ottersdorf, Plittersdorf, Rauental and Wintersdorf will take place in all electoral districts (including postal votes) of the respective localities.
District elections: Who can vote?
The basis for the partial repeat election is the electoral roll for the municipal election on June 9, 2024. Anyone who has lost their eligibility to vote by moving away or in any other way since the day of the main election will be removed from the electoral roll, see also "I lived in a locality on June 9, 2024 and have now moved. Can I vote?"
Persons eligible to vote in the partial repeat election as of June 9, 2024 are eligible to vote in the districts. Anyone who is eligible to vote will receive a polling card.
According to the Local Elections Act (Section 41 (3) of the Local Elections Act), all Germans within the meaning of Article 116 (1) of the Basic Law as well as citizens who are nationals of another member state of the European Union and who, on election day
- had reached the age of 16,
- have had their main residence in the district of Rastatt for at least three months or otherwise habitually reside there and
- were not excluded from the right to vote.
Local council elections: Who can vote?
The basis for the partial repeat election is the electoral roll for the municipal election on June 9, 2024. Anyone who has lost their eligibility to vote by moving away or in any other way since the day of the main election will be removed from the electoral roll, see also "I lived in a locality on June 9, 2024 and have now moved. Can I vote?"
Persons eligible to vote in the partial repeat election as of June 9, 2024 are eligible to vote in the local districts. Anyone who is eligible to vote will receive a polling card.
According to the Municipal Elections Act (Section 41 (3) of the Municipal Elections Act), all Germans within the meaning of Article 116 (1) of the Basic Law as well as citizens who are nationals of another member state of the European Union who are eligible to vote in the municipal council elections on June 9, 2024 and who, on election day
- had reached the age of 16,
- have had their main residence in Rastatt for at least three months or otherwise habitually reside in Rastatt and
- were not excluded from the right to vote.
Local council elections: Who can vote?
The basis for the repeat election is the electoral roll for the municipal election on June 9, 2024. Anyone who has lost their eligibility to vote by moving away or in any other way since the day of the main election will be removed from the electoral roll, see also "I lived in a locality on June 9, 2024 and have now moved. Can I vote?"
Persons eligible to vote in the repeat election on June 9, 2024 are eligible to vote in the local districts. Anyone who is eligible to vote will receive a polling card.
According to the Local Elections Act (Section 41 (3) of the Local Elections Act), all Germans within the meaning of Article 116 (1) of the Basic Law as well as citizens who are nationals of another member state of the European Union who are eligible to vote in the local council elections on June 9, 2024 and who, on election day
- had reached the age of 16,
- have had their main residence in the respective locality for at least three months or otherwise habitually reside there and
- were not excluded from the right to vote.
I lived in a locality on June 09, 2024 and have now moved. Am I eligible to vote?
| |
Election of the district council |
Election of the municipal council |
Election of the local council |
| Moving within the village |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Relocation to another town in the city of Rastatt |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Move to the city center |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Moving to another municipality in the district of Rastatt |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Moving to a municipality outside the district of Rastatt |
No |
No |
No |
How can I vote?
Voting is possible at the polling station in the constituency on election day or by postal vote.
In principle, a person entitled to vote can only vote in the polling station of the constituency in whose electoral roll he/she is entered.
Anyone who is entitled to vote will receive a polling card. The polling station is indicated on the polling card. If you wish to vote in another polling station or by postal vote, you will need a polling card, see "How do I obtain postal voting documents?".
The ballot paper does not fit into the ballot paper envelope - what can I do?
Both when voting at the polling station and when voting by post, you do not have to hand in the entire ballot paper block in the ballot paper envelope. You can separate the ballot papers from the ballot paper block on which you have cast votes and place only these in the ballot paper envelope. If you cast a single blank ballot paper from the entire ballot paper block, the candidates on the list will each receive one vote from top to bottom.
Can I vote with the ballot papers from the election on June 9?
No, there will be new ballot papers for the (partial) repeat election on October 20, 2024.
Can I vote with postal voting documents for the election on June 9?
No, postal voting documents from the election on June 9, 2024 cannot be used for the (partial) repeat election.
Anyone wishing to vote by postal vote in the (partial) repeat election on October 20, 2024 must apply for a postal vote. Further information on this can be found in the FAQ under the question "How do I obtain postal voting documents?".
Candidates for the municipal and local council elections - who can be elected?
No new candidates can be elected in the (partial) repeat election on October 20, 2024. After re-examination by the city administration for the (partial) repeat elections, there are no changes on the ballot papers for the municipal council and the local councils.
When will I receive the election notification?
Eligible voters who are entered in the electoral roll are expected to receive a polling card for the (partial) repeat election by September 14, 2024, but no later than September 29, 2024.
I have not received an election notification, what do I have to do?
If you have not received an election notification by September 29, 2024, you should obtain information from the following offices
Citizens' office of the city of Rastatt
Herrenstraße 15
76437 Rastatt
Phone 07222 972-7113
Phone 07222 972-7114
Phone 07222 972-7115
Phone 07222 972-7118
In the districts
Niederbühl local administration
Laurentiusstraße 8
76437 Rastatt-Niederbühl
Phone 07222 972-1800
Ottersdorf local administration
Wilhelmstraße 3
76437 Rastatt-Ottersdorf
Phone 07222 972-1820
Plittersdorf local administration
Blumenstraße 2
Rastatt-Plittersdorf
Phone 07222 972-1840
Rauental local administration
Hohlgasse 3
76437 Rastatt-Rauental
Phone 07222 972-1860
Wintersdorf local administration
Bannwaldstraße 1
76437 Rastatt-Wintersdorf
Phone 07222 972-1880
I have received an envelope marked "Amtliche Wahlsache - keine Briefwahlunterlagen", what is this?
In local elections, it is a legal requirement that all eligible voters receive their ballot papers in advance by post. Voters can then fill in the ballot papers at home and bring them to the polling station on election Sunday. The ballot papers sent out in advance are not postal voting documents; these must be applied for separately. You can find more information on this under the question "How do I get postal voting documents?".
How do I obtain postal voting documents?
An application must be submitted in order to receive postal voting documents.
The easiest way to apply is to use the QR code on the election notification. Most of the data for an application is already stored automatically. You only need to enter your date of birth and, if applicable, a different mailing address.
The online postal vote application is also simple. This could be applied for until October 14, 12 noon.
You can also apply for postal voting documents in writing, by email or in person. In this case, you must provide your surname, first name(s), date of birth and home address (street, house number, zip code, town/city).
If you apply in writing, you can also use the form on the back of the election notification. Please ensure that you provide all mandatory information marked with an "X" (date, signature and date of birth)! Telephone applications and applications by text message are not permitted.
If you apply in person, you can take the postal voting documents with you or, if you wish, you can vote on the spot at the citizens' office or at the respective local authority.
It is only possible to apply for and collect postal voting documents on behalf of another person entitled to vote if the authorization to do so can be proven by submitting a written power of attorney. This can be done informally on the back of the voter's notification. The authorized person must identify themselves!
For all application types, you have the option of specifying a different postal address if you would like to receive the postal voting documents at your vacation destination, for example. In this case, a so-called "control notification" is automatically sent to the original home address with the information that postal voting documents have been sent to a different address.
The mailing of postal voting documents will begin in the week from September 02 to 06, 2024 at the earliest .
Postal voting documents from June 9, 2024 - if available - cannot be used for the (partial) repeat election.
What do I need to consider when voting by post?
The application for postal voting documents should be received by the city administration as early as possible before the election in order to avoid delays in the post. The city administration cannot influence the duration of the postal dispatch, neither with regard to the dispatch to the applicant nor the return to the city administration.
If you would like to vote by postal vote, you can also apply for postal voting documents at the Citizens' Office, Herrenstraße 15, 76437 Rastatt, during its usual opening hours by Friday, October 18, 2024, 6 p.m. at the latest, or in person at a local administration office during its usual opening hours.
If you submit your application in the last week before the election, we strongly recommend that you hand in your application in person at the citizens' office or a local administration office and take the postal voting documents directly with you.
You can use the postal voting documents to cast your vote by post. Alternatively, you also have the option of voting at a polling station on election day using the polling card included with the postal voting documents. To do this, you must hand in the ballot paper at the polling station and identify yourself.
Absentee voters are responsible for ensuring that the election letters are received by the Rastatt City Administration, Marktplatz 1, 76437 Rastatt, by Sunday, October 20, 2024, 6 p.m. at the latest.
What is the best way to hand in postal voting documents from now on? (as of October 16, 2024)
The city of Rastatt recommends that all postal voters either post the completed documents, i.e. the yellow envelope, in the letterbox at the historic town hall, Marktplatz 1, or hand them in there during the opening hours of the citizens' office and the local administrations. This will ensure that the documents are received in time for the election Sunday at 6 pm. Possible delays in postal delivery can also be avoided in this way.
By when must the postal vote be cast?
Election letters must be received by the Rastatt city administration, Marktplatz 1, 76437 Rastatt by Sunday, October 20, 2024, 6 p.m.
Election letters received after this date may no longer be taken into account in the vote count.
I have lost my postal voting documents or I have not (yet) received my documents, what should I do?
Lost documents will not be replaced. If an eligible voter credibly asserts that he/she has not received the documents, must be submitted by no later than the day before the election (i.e. Saturday, October 19, 2024) 12 noona new polling card with postal voting documents must be applied for. The original polling card then loses its validity.
It is possible to apply for new postal voting documents during the normal opening hours of the citizens' office or the respective local administration. The new polling card can also be used to vote on the spot at the citizens' office or the respective local administration office. If you do not apply for a new polling card, you will not be able to vote at the polling station.
On the Saturday before the election, postal voting documents can only be applied for at the citizens' office until 12 noon.
The usual opening hours for applying for (new) postal voting documents are:
Citizens' office customer area
Monday and Tuesday: 7.30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday: 7.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday: 7.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Longer waiting times at the Citizens' Office on Saturdays are to be expected)
Niederbühl local administration
Tue, Wed, Thu: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Wed: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m
Local administration Ottersdorf
Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri: 8 am to 12 noon
Wed: 2 pm to 5 pm
Local administration Plittersdorf
Mon, Thu: 8 am to 12 noon
Wed: 2 pm to 5 pm
Local administration Rauental
Mon and Tue: 8 am to 12 noon
Thu: 8 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 5 pm
Local administrations Wintersdorf
Tue, Thu: 8 am to 12 noon
Wed: 2 pm to 5 pm
Please note that the mailing of postal voting documents will not begin until the week from September 2 to 6, 2024 at the earliest and that not all postal voting documents already requested can be sent out immediately, especially on the first few days.
Where is my polling station?
The location of your polling station can be found on your polling card.
Voters can cast their votes at a total of ten polling stations in the districts.
How is the order in the ballot block determined?
The order of the election proposals on the ballot paper is based on the number of votes that the parties and voter associations received in the last local elections in 2019. If new parties or voter associations are added with an election proposal, they are ranked after the political groups already represented. Here, the order is then based on the date on which the election proposal is received by the city administration.
The non-genuine local election has been abolished. How can I now see which candidate comes from my district?
Due to a revision of the relevant laws and regulations for local elections, the ballot paper for all candidates contains an additional indication of the person's place of residence (core city or indication of the respective locality).
District election: How many votes do I have?
You have a total of 12 votes to elect the persons in the nominations. To cast your vote, enter how many votes you would like to give to a person after their name. You can give one person up to three votes. It is also possible to enter the name of another eligible person in the blank line on the ballot paper. If you wish to vote for another eligible person from another nomination by entering their name in the blank line, you must designate them clearly so that it is unambiguously clear which person you mean. Otherwise your votes for this person will be invalid.
These instructions can also be found on the first page of the ballot paper.
Local council election: How many votes do I have?
You have a total of 40 votes to elect the persons in the nominations. To cast your vote, enter how many votes you would like to give to a person after their name. You can give one person up to three votes. It is also possible to enter the name of another eligible person from another nomination in the blank line on the ballot paper. If you wish to vote for another person by entering their name in the blank line, you must designate them clearly enough to clearly identify the person you mean. Otherwise your votes for this person will be invalid.
These instructions can also be found on the first page of the ballot paper.
Local council elections: How many votes do I have?
You have a total of ten votes and use them to elect the persons in the nominations. To cast your vote, enter how many votes you would like to give to a person after their name. You can give one person up to three votes. It is also possible to enter the name of another eligible person from another nomination in the blank line on the ballot paper. If you wish to vote for another person by entering their name in the blank line, you must designate them clearly enough to clearly identify who you mean. Otherwise, the votes cast for this person are invalid.
These instructions can also be found on the first page of the ballot paper.
Are the polling stations wheelchair accessible?
All polling stations are accessible for wheelchair users.
I have a visual impairment, how can I still take part in the election?
Visually impaired or blind voters may use an assistant to mark their ballot paper.
Unfortunately, ballot paper templates cannot be offered and used for local elections.
I suddenly and unexpectedly fall ill on election day. How can I still take part in the election?
Anyone who suddenly and unexpectedly falls ill on election day can apply to vote by post at the citizens' office of the City of Rastatt, Herrenstraße 15, 76437 Rastatt by 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 20, 2024. In this case, a person authorized by the sick person with a corresponding power of attorney can apply for and collect the postal voting documents for the sick person at the citizens' office. A medical certificate is required.
How is the count carried out?
The vote count for the (partial) repeat of the municipal election will take place on Monday, October 21, 2024 from 8 am. It may be necessary to continue the count on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 8 a.m. The count will take place on the premises of Rastatt town halls and administrative buildings. Which rooms these are will be displayed at the entrances to the buildings on the counting days and will be publicly announced beforehand. The counting of votes is open to the public.
On Monday, October 21, 2024, the votes for the district council election will be counted first. This will be followed by the counting of votes for the municipal council elections. The votes for the local council elections will be counted last.
The municipal election results determined in the electoral districts are checked and read out by the municipal election committee in the council chamber on the second floor of the historic town hall (Marktplatz 1, 76437 Rastatt) and the overall result is announced.
Which offices are closed due to the (partial) repeat election?
As municipal employees are counting the ballots in the administrative offices, the customer service department for regulatory affairs and the local administrative offices will be closed on Monday, October 21 and Tuesday, October 22. The usual office hours will be canceled. For matters that cannot be postponed, an emergency service has been set up in the public order customer area.
Where can I find the results of the (partial) repeat election or overall results of the 2024 municipal election?
All results can be viewed on the Rastatt city website. For the district and municipal council elections, the results presentation initially only contains the results of the constituencies from the core city on June 9, 2024 without the results from the localities. The results of the partial repeat election will not be displayed or included in the presentations until the results are received as part of the partial repeat election count from Monday, October 21, 2024.
In the repeat election of the local councils, only the results of the repeat election of October 20, 2024 are displayed.
Once all results have been recorded, the provisional official final result of the election is displayed. This includes the results from the core city on June 9, 2024 and the results of the (partial) repeat election on October 20, 2024. As soon as the municipal election committee has determined the result of the (partial) repeat election or the result of an election, the official final result is displayed.
How and when can posters be put up?
The city provides the parties and voter associations registered for the municipal council and local council elections with a total of 11 municipal election poster stands for the (partial) repeat election. These election poster stands are distributed in the districts of Niederbühl, Ottersdorf, Plittersdorf, Rauental and Winterdorf and may be used for billposting from August 20, 2024.
Only posters of parties and voter associations registered for the municipal council and local council elections that relate to these elections are permitted on the municipal election poster stands.
In addition, all parties and voter associations have the option of displaying posters in public spaces (e.g. on lampposts) within the framework of the applicable regulations. Permission must be obtained from the customer service department for regulatory affairs. Posters are usually permitted in the two months preceding an election.
Permission must also be obtained from the Regulatory Affairs Customer Division for billposting with large-format posters.
Where can I find more information?
