Tag: Berlin Wiki
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Berlin Wiki: Understanding Political Parties
What Is an Election Manifesto? Before an election, political parties present their election manifestos. This applies in federal, state, and local elections. In the manifestos, parties set out in writing the goals they intend to pursue. These goals reflect the issues that are important to the party during the upcoming legislative term—that is, the electoral term. The manifesto serves as the…
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Berlin Wiki: Who Votes – and Who Stays Home?
How Many People Participate in Elections? After every election in Germany, one figure receives particular attention: voter turnout, the share of eligible voters who actually cast their ballots. In German public debate, close attention is paid to how voter turnout develops over time. For example, in the 2025 federal election, 82.5 percent of eligible voters across Germany cast their ballots. This…
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Berlin Wiki: From Postal Voting to the Ballot Box
How Does Postal Voting Work? In Germany, voters can choose to vote by post instead of going to a polling station on election day. Information on how to apply for postal voting can be found in the voter notification that eligible voters receive in the weeks before the election. Depending on the municipality, voter notifications may also include a QR code…
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Berlin Wiki: The Overlooked Election — BVV and Local Democratic Participation
How Does the BVV Election Work? On September 20, Berlin goes to the polls. On that day, the election to the House of Representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus) will take place, along with the elections to the District Council Assemblies (Bezirksverordnetenversammlungen, BVV). Berlin is divided into twelve districts, each of which elects its own District Council Assembly. This is the elected representative body of…
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Berlin Wiki: Who Makes Decisions in the Districts?
What Does a District Office Do? A Berlin district office (Bezirksamt) manages the administration of one of Berlin’s twelve districts and serves as the district’s political leadership. It consists of the district mayor and five district councillors (Bezirksstadträte), who are elected by the district assembly (Bezirksverordnetenversammlung, BVV). The district office implements adopted laws and policies. Like the Senate, the district office…
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Berlin Wiki: How Berlin’s Government Works
What Makes Berlin’s Governing Mayor Special? Whoever holds the office of Governing Mayor is both the head of government and the ceremonial head of the city of Berlin. The House of Representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus) votes on who will hold the position. There has even been a case in which someone won the election without being their party’s lead candidate. Since Berlin is…
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