Kommunalwahl: Bürgermeisterwahl/Landratswahl

The term of office of the mayor/county councillor in full-time municipalities is a minimum of seven and a maximum of nine years. It is determined by the main statutes. In municipalities with honorary administration, the term of office of the honorary mayor corresponds to the term of office of the municipal council. The term of office is five years. Germans and EU citizens are eligible to vote in mayoral elections, provided they meet the legal requirements.

You are automatically entered in the electoral register in the municipality in which you are registered with your sole or main residence.

All citizens entitled to vote who are registered with the registration office on the 37th day before the election are entered in the electoral roll ex officio and receive a polling card no later than three weeks before election day.

You can inspect the voters' register from the 20th to the 16th day before the election on working days during the general opening hours of your municipality. Persons who are not entered in the voters' register and believe they are entitled to vote can apply for entry in the voters' register up to the 23rd day before the election or apply for a polling card with postal voting documents from the municipality by 12 noon on the second day before the election (Friday) at the latest. In specially regulated exceptional cases, especially in the case of proven sudden illness, you can apply for a polling card until 3 p.m. on election day.

You need a polling card if you want to vote in a polling station other than the one assigned to you or if you want to cast your vote by postal ballot.

If you have misplaced or lost your polling card, you can still vote in the polling station. However, do not forget to bring your identity card or passport (EU citizens their identity card) with you.

You have one vote. A run-off election will take place two to four weeks after the main election at the latest if none of the candidates has achieved the legally required majority. Voters who applied for a polling card for the main election will automatically receive another polling card and postal voting documents for the run-off election.

The municipality will inform you with the election notification and by public announcement which polling stations are accessible for the disabled. If in doubt, ask about this in good time.

If you are unable to cast your vote on your own or cannot read due to your physical impairment, you have the option of having someone you trust help you to vote (in the polling station or by post). You can also ask a member of the electoral board for help in the polling station. Blind or visually impaired voters can use a ballot paper template.

You can vote in the polling stations from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on election day.

You can find more information about local elections on the website of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state electoral authority. The Federal Agency for Civic Education provides information on various election topics.