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Description of the
In the election of local councillors, voters generally have as many votes as there are seats to be filled. Voters have the option of ‘cumulative voting’, meaning that individual candidates may receive up to three votes. In addition, voters may split their votes, meaning that votes can be distributed among candidates from different lists.
In the election of the mayor, voters have one vote.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, who have been resident in the municipality for at least two months as the centre of their life and who are not excluded from the right to vote may vote.
Anyone wishing to be elected as a member of the local council must, on polling day, be a citizen of the European Union, have reached the age of 18, and, as a general rule, have had a residence in the municipality for at least three months – which need not be their main residence – or, if they do not have a residence, habitually reside in the constituency. These requirements must also be met by anyone wishing to be elected to the office of honorary mayor, although for this one must be a German national within the meaning of Article 116(1) of the Basic Law. Anyone who has neither a residence nor their habitual residence in the municipality may also be elected as a full-time mayor. There must be no grounds for disqualification from standing for election, either in the election for municipal councillor or in the election for mayor. You can obtain
further details from your local council.Deadlines
There are numerous deadlines to be observed when preparing for and conducting the local elections. Please contact your
local council for further 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 of the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, for Sport and Integration of 7 May 2019
- Art. 31 Municipal Code for the Free State of Bavaria (Gemeindeordnung - GO)
Composition of the municipal council
Legal remedy
Contestation of elections (Art. 51 GLKrWG), administrative court action (Art. 51a GLKrWG)Further links