The election guide

Everything in the Landeszentrale’s brochure “Berlin votes: My city. My voice.”, as web pages: what is elected, who may vote, how voting works, who gets elected, how they work, what they decide, and how to take part. Seven chapters, every chart rebuilt from the official numbers.

What is it about?

• Will there be a cycle lane on my street?
• Can I still afford my rent?
• Will my child get a place at a nearby school?
• Are the parks and playgrounds looked after?
• How safe do I feel at night?
• Does the U-Bahn come often enough?
• Who decides how much the pool costs?
• What happens to the empty lot next door?
• Where does the district spend its money?
• How does Berlin reach its climate targets?
• Who runs the hospitals and the courts?
• Can I have a say between elections?

Contents

1. 1What is being elected on 20 September 2026?Two elections on one Sunday: Berlin’s state parliament and the twelve district assemblies.Brochure pp. 4–7
2. 2Who can vote?Two elections, two sets of rules, and for the first time voting from 16 in both.Brochure pp. 8–13
3. 3How does voting work?One vote for the BVV, two votes for the House of Representatives, and several ways to cast them.Brochure pp. 14–19
4. 4Who gets elected?How votes turn into seats: thresholds, direct mandates, and why the House has more than 130 members.Brochure pp. 20–23
5. 5How do elected representatives do their work?Plenary sessions, parliamentary groups and committees, and what the job actually involves.Brochure pp. 24–31
6. 6What do the BVV and the House of Representatives decide?Four core tasks at two levels, and where Berlin’s districts and the state fit into the wider system.Brochure pp. 32–35
7. 7Getting involved: there is always a way to take partDemocracy does not stop between elections, and many of these routes are open to people who cannot vote.Brochure pp. 36–41