As Germany approaches a significant election, many expatriate citizens are expressing frustration after failing to receive absentee ballots in a timely manner. This situation has led to disenfranchisement for numerous German voters living abroad, who are concerned their voices may not be heard in this pivotal event.
Concerns over absentee voting
Among those affected is Karl Doemens, a correspondent for the German Newsrooms Network based in Washington, who shared his disappointment, stating, “For the first time in my life, I was unable to vote in a national election. Done. Over.” This sentiment echoes the feelings of thousands of Germans who are grappling with similar issues, as highlighted in Doemens’ posts on social media.
The upcoming election is critical, serving as an indicator of the potential political shift within Germany, particularly towards conservative ideologies. Recent polls suggest that the conservative party is likely to secure first place, with far-right groups projected to garner approximately one-fifth of the total votes.
Following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government in November, the German government scheduled a new national election for February 23. However, this expedited timeline left local voting authorities with only two months to organize the election process, including the essential tasks of assembling, printing, and mailing absentee ballots.
Frustrations with the voting process
German authorities established a February 2 deadline for absentee voters to apply, allowing submissions via email. However, voting officials were then faced with a mere three-week window to not only distribute the ballots but also ensure they were returned in time for counting.
“My experience: Frustration,” said Reinhard Boest, an editor with Belgieninfo.net. He, like many others, applied for a mail-in ballot last November but never received it. “Expat Germans apparently don’t matter in politics,” he concluded.
Unlike other countries, such as the United States, where ballots must be postmarked by election day, Germany mandates that ballots be received by the end of the election day. The last collection of mail is at 6 p.m. on February 23, leaving little room for error.
Notably, the German voting system does not support online voting or ballot returns via email, nor does it allow citizens to cast votes at embassies or consulates, a practice common in many nations.
As disenfranchised voters contemplate their next steps, Bernd Hüttemann, the head of the European Movement Germany network, shared that this issue has been a prominent topic of discussion among Germans in Belgium. He mentioned that “many German interest groups in Brussels are considering legal action” in response to the voting challenges, which could potentially lead to a formal challenge against the entire election process.
While some expatriates took measures such as traveling back to Germany or entrusting their ballots to acquaintances for hand delivery, others faced hurdles like postal strikes, which further complicated the situation for absentee voters in Belgium. Despite these challenges, many expatriates are advocating for reforms to ease the voting process from abroad.
As the election date approaches, the urgency of this issue remains paramount, with many German citizens calling for improvements to the voting system to ensure every voice is heard.