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Who can vote?

Two elections, two sets of rules, and for the first time voting from 16 in both.

You can vote for the BVV if, on election day, you…

• are a German citizen or a citizen of another EU member state;
• are at least 16 years old;
• have had your main residence in Berlin for at least three months, or usually live here.

You can vote for the House of Representatives if, on election day, you…

• are a German citizen;
• are at least 16 years old;
• have had your main residence in Berlin for at least three months, or usually live here.

General, direct, free, equal and secret

Elections are democratic when they are held regularly and follow five basic principles:

• General: everyone who is eligible may take part; nobody is excluded for social, economic, religious or political reasons.
• Direct: representatives are elected by the voters themselves, not through intermediaries.
• Free: voters decide without pressure whom to vote for.
• Equal: every vote carries the same weight.
• Secret: nobody may see how another person votes, which is why there are polling booths.

Voting rights: past and present

In a democracy, the people affected by decisions should be able to vote on who takes them. In practice there are limits: many Berliners cannot vote because they are too young or do not hold a German or EU passport. Who should be allowed to vote is still debated, and today’s rules are the result of a long political struggle.

1. 1848First parliamentary elections in Germany. Only men with a certain income may vote.
2. 1919Women vote for the first time. All German women and men aged 21 and over may vote; candidates must be 25.
3. 1933–1945National Socialism: no free elections; women are largely excluded from political office.
4. 1949Two German states. In the GDR elections are not free: only a single unity list can be voted for.
5. 1950GDR: voting from 18; all GDR citizens aged 21 and over may stand.
6. 1972Federal Republic: voting age lowered to 18 (eligibility to stand: 21).
7. 1974The minimum age for standing is lowered to 18 in the Federal Republic.
8. 1975West Berlin follows: candidates may stand from 18.
9. 1990March: the last People’s Chamber election, the first democratic vote in the GDR. December: first election to the House of Representatives in reunified Berlin.
10. 1994Citizens of other EU states may vote in European and local elections.
11. 2006Berlin: voting from 16 in BVV elections.
12. 2024European elections with voting from 16.
13. 2026Voting from 16 in elections to the Berlin House of Representatives.

Got questions?

Turning 16 on 20 September: can you already vote?

Yes. Whoever is 16 on election day may vote.

From another EU country: do you need to register?

No. EU citizens with their main residence registered in Berlin who meet the requirements are entered in their Bezirk’s electoral register automatically and receive a polling notification.

Why can other EU citizens vote for the BVV but not for the House?

Under Germany’s Basic Law only German citizens may vote in state parliament and Bundestag elections. Citizens of other EU states may vote in European and local elections only.

No German or EU passport, but years in Berlin or born here: can you vote?

Not at present. Changing that would require amending the Basic Law with two-thirds majorities in both the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. Under certain conditions, long-term residents can apply for German citizenship, which brings the right to vote with it.

No fixed address right now: can you still vote?

Yes. Eligible voters without a registered address may vote if they are at least 16 and have been staying in Berlin for at least three months. They must register in the electoral register at their Bezirk’s electoral office by 28 August 2026, or apply in writing by 30 August 2026. It is free.

Why vote at 16 but stand for election only at 18?

Many people hold that elected representatives should be legal adults with full legal capacity.