Electoral roll (mayoral election) - apply for entry or correction
An official electoral roll is kept by the municipality for each electoral district.
All citizens who are entitled to vote on election day are entered in this register. Eligible voters whose main residence is registered in the municipality are automatically entered.
The municipality will send you a polling card at least three weeks before election day.
Please note: The polling card is also valid for any run-off elections (= second ballot) that may be necessary. This is necessary if none of the candidates receive the required majority in the first ballot.
If you have not received a polling card, you should check with your local authority as soon as possible whether you are on the electoral roll.
If this is not the case, you can apply to be entered by correcting the electoral roll.
Responsible authority
the municipality in which you have your main residence
Contact
Details
Prerequisite
- You are not entered in the electoral roll of the municipality responsible for you.
- You assume that you are eligible to vote in the mayoral election.
Procedure
You can inspect the electoral roll from the 20th to the 16th day before the election on working days during the general opening hours of your municipality.
Within this period, you can also request a correction to the electoral roll in order to be registered.
You can do this in writing or in person (for recording) at the municipality.
Your application must contain at least the following information and be signed by hand:
- First name and surname
- Date of birth
- exact address of the voter or voters
- Wording "Application for entry in the electoral roll" or "Application for correction of the electoral roll"
The municipality will then check your eligibility to vote again.
If registration is possible, you will receive a voter's notification as soon as possible.
You can also apply for a polling card. If your application is unsuccessful, you will be notified as soon as possible.
Deadlines
You can submit the application up to 16 days before the election at the latest.
Required documents
Proof that you fulfil the requirements for the right to vote
Costs
none
Processing time
Your application will be processed as quickly as possible.
Miscellaneous
The municipality does not automatically enter returnees in the electoral roll.
In these cases, entry in the electoral roll must always be applied for.
Different rules apply than those described above. You can find more information in the service"Voters' register (municipal elections) - Applying for entry as a returnee".
Legal basis
Kommunalwahlgesetz (KomWG):
- § 6 Wählerverzeichnis
Kommunalwahlordnung (KomWO):
- § 5 Einsicht in das Wählerverzeichnis
- § 6 Antrag auf Berichtigung des Wählerverzeichnisses
- § 7 Berichtigung des Wählerverzeichnisses
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Innenministerium Baden-Württemberg, 01.08.2025