State election

All Germans within the meaning of Article 116 (1) of the Basic Law who are eligible to vote on election day are

• have reached the age of 16
• have had their main residence in Baden-Württemberg for at least three months or otherwise habitually reside there and
• are not excluded from the right to vote.

Citizens of other member states of the European Union (EU citizens) and foreign citizens living in Baden-Württemberg are not eligible to vote in the state parliament elections.

All eligible voters whose main residence is registered in Offenburg (deadline: 42nd day before the election) and who meet the above requirements are automatically entered in the electoral register of the city of Offenburg. Based on this entry in the voters’ register, voter notifications will be sent out in due course (at the latest on the 21st day before the election).
If you have not received a voter notification by this time, you should contact your municipality to clarify whether you have been properly entered in the voters’ register.

From the 2026 election, the Baden-Württemberg state parliament will be elected according to the principle of “personalized proportional representation”. Every eligible voter has two votes:

First vote:
With your first vote, you choose a single person from a number of constituency candidates. The candidate who ultimately secures the most first votes in the constituency receives a direct mandate for the Baden-Württemberg state parliament (relative majority vote).

Second vote:
With your second vote, you choose the electoral list of a party. The respective second vote shares of the various parties determine the distribution of seats in the state parliament in accordance with proportional representation. This means, for example, that if party A receives 20% of the second votes nationwide, party A also receives 20% of the seats in the state parliament. The second votes of a party are only taken into account for the distribution of seats if the party has received at least 5% of the second votes awarded nationwide (“five percent clause”).

The law provides for at least 120 members of parliament. Of the 120 members of parliament, 70 are elected directly in the constituencies (first vote). The remaining 50 are elected via the state lists of the parties (second vote). However, the second vote shares of the individual parties are decisive for the composition of the Landtag.

Special features of the distribution of seats:
If a party (e.g. party A) receives more direct mandates via the first vote than it would be entitled to according to its share of second votes, this is referred to as “overhang mandates”. However, as overhang mandates distort the distribution of seats according to the second votes, so-called “compensatory mandates” are awarded in return. This means that the other parties receive additional seats so that the overhang seats of party A are balanced out and the distribution of seats in parliament ultimately corresponds to the original ratio of second votes.

Postal voting documents can be applied for using the form on the election notification, via the QR code on your election notification or online. The link will be activated as soon as possible. A telephone application is not permitted by law.

The mailing of postal voting documents is expected to begin at the end of January/beginning of February.

You also have the opportunity to vote directly at the polling station (Am Fischmarkt 2, 77652 Offenburg) during the respective opening hours.

You will receive your voting documents on site with your voter’s notification and your ID/passport and will be able to vote there.

Voters’ postal ballot returns must be received by the municipal administration by 6 p.m. on election day at the latest. Postal ballot documents that are not received until later may no longer be considered.
Postal ballot documents can be dropped into any Deutsche Post AG post box without postage paid. Due to the varying postal delivery times, please use this method by Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at the latest.
It is also possible to submit postal voting documents at a later date directly to the municipal administration at the following locations:
– Wahlbüro, Am Fischmarkt 2.
– Historisches Rathaus, Hauptstraße 90
– Ortsverwaltungen Bohlsbach, Bühl, Elgersweier, Fessenbach, Griesheim, Rammersweier, Waltersweier, Weier, Windschläg, Zell-Weierbach und Zunsweier.

On presentation of a medical certificate, you can apply to vote by post at the polling station in the BürgerBüro, Am Fischmarkt 2, 77652 Offenburg, until 3 p.m. on election day. A person you have authorized by proxy can collect the voting documents for you there.

Voting certificates can still be applied for until the Friday before the election, March 6, 2026, 6 p.m. On election day itself, this is only possible due to certified sudden illness.

We recommend that you go to the electoral office in person on the Friday before the election and apply for replacement documents. You can also vote there directly.

No, you can only vote at the polling station indicated on your polling card, unless you have applied for postal voting beforehand. In this case, you can vote at any Offenburg polling station by means of a “polling card”, which will be sent to you with your postal voting documents. To do so, you will need your polling card and your identity card.

You will need your voting notification and a valid identity document (identity card or passport) to vote.

You are not allowed to vote without a valid ID document, even if you have your polling card with you. This is the only way to ensure that the person actually entitled to vote votes.

No, to ensure the secrecy of the vote, photography is not permitted in the polling booth.