Germany

Articles about voting issues in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Opposition wins major state vote | Washington Examiner

May 142012

Voters in Germany’s most populous state strengthened a center-left regional government which Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives sought to portray as irresponsibly spendthrift, and inflicted an embarrassingly heavy defeat Sunday on the German leader’s party, projections showed. The center-left Social Democrats and Greens — Germany’s main opposition parties — won combined support of about 51 percent in the election in North Rhine-Westphalia state, according to ARD television based on exit polls and early counting. That would be enough to give them a majority in the state legislature, which they narrowly missed in the last regional election two years ago.  Read More »

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Germany No Responses » Topics: Angela Merkel, Christian Democrats, Free Democrats, Greens, North Rhine-Westphalia, Social Democrats

Most populous state to hold new elections as government stumbles over budget | The Washington Post

Mar 152012

Germany’s most populous state will hold early elections after its minority government narrowly failed to get a budget passed Wednesday — a prospect that could boost the country’s center-left opposition. All 181 members of the state legislature in North Rhine-Westphalia voted to dissolve it. That means a new regional election must be held within 60 days, although no date was immediately set. North Rhine-Westphalia, a western region of some 18 million people that includes Cologne and the Ruhr industrial region, is governed by the center-left Social Democrats and Greens. The vote Wednesday came hours after a budget proposal from the state government fell one vote short of a majority. Center-right opponents have accused it of poor financial management and demanded more belt-tightening. Read More »

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Germany Comments Off Topics: early elections, North Rhine-Westphalia, Social Democratic Party

Berlin suggests sending election observers to Russia | The Local

Sep 302011

The German government on Monday called on Russia to see that next year’s presidential election observed “democratic principles,” and added that it would welcome a plan to send in independent election observers. Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said, “From a German point of view, it would be very helpful if a sufficient number of election observers were allowed into the country.”

But he also made it clear that the “strategic partnership” between Russia and Germany was of primary importance, and would be used as the basis for a continued close cooperation with any successor to President Dmitry Medvedev. Read More »

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Germany, Russia Comments Off Topics: Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin

E-Voting: click instead of crosses? Online elections in Germany, still in the future | ZDFheute

May 232011
Wahlkreuz auf Laptopmonitor

We buy on the Internet and do banking online. Yet we still vote with pen and paper. The interest in online voting is great, but above all unresolved security problems are an obstacle for e-voting.

E-Voting in Practice: Two years ago, Austrian students selected their representatives in the National Union of Students (Students’ Union) for the first time by clicking select. But the elections were anything but smooth: turnout dropped below 30 percent and less than one percent of students voted online. There were also problems with the technology and the University of Salzburg eventually annulled the election. This year they will return to pen and paper, voting via the Internet has been eliminated. Read More »

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Germany Comments Off Topics: e-voting, internet voting

Teen Trend Setters: Bremen Lowers Voting Age to Sixteen | Spiegel Online

May 192011

Typical 16 and 17-year-olds enjoy sleeping in on Sundays. But on May 22, those in the German city-state of Bremen will have a reason to greet the day a bit earlier. For the first time in their nation’s history, they will be allowed to cast ballots in state elections after the local government decided to lower the voting age to 16 from the nationwide standard of 18.

Politicians in the northern port city have made great efforts to reach the young new voting bloc, with candidates spending an entire morning speaking with students at the city parliament and taking time to visit most of the area’s schools. Local sports stars have also tried sparking interest among teens. Sebastian Prödl, a player for football club SV Werder Bremen, even made a bet with a number of school classes that their under-20 demographic couldn’t beat voter turnout among 21- to 35-year-olds. If they prove him wrong, he’ll teach an hour-long lesson for each class. Read More »

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Germany Comments Off Topics: Sebastian Prödl, voting age
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