European elections / Election of the European Parliament

Eligibility to vote

In principle, all Germans within the meaning of the Basic Law who on election day

• have reached the age of 16 (born on 09.06.2008 or earlier)

• have lived in the Federal Republic of Germany or in the member states of the European Union since at least 09.03.2024 or are otherwise ordinarily resident there and

• are not excluded from the right to vote (e.g. by a court ruling).
• Germans entitled to vote for the German Bundestag pursuant to Section 12 (2) of the Federal Elections Act (Bundeswahlgesetz), so-called expatriate Germans, are also entitled to vote.

In principle, all nationals of other member states of the European Community who have reached the age of 16 on election day are also entitled to vote:

• have reached the age of 16 (born on 09.06.2008 or earlier)
• have been resident or otherwise ordinarily resident in the Federal Republic of Germany or in the member states of the European Union since at least 09.03.2024 and
• are not excluded from the right to vote (e.g. by a judge's decision).

The right to vote may only be exercised once and in person. This also applies to persons entitled to vote who are also entitled to vote for the European Parliament in another Member State of the European Union. (Section 6 (4) EuWG)

Register of voters

Registration ex officio

You can only exercise your right to vote in the municipality in which you are entered in the voters' register. All eligible voters who are registered with their sole or main residence in Jena on 28.04.2024 (42nd day before the election) will be entered ex officio in the electoral roll of the city of Jena and will receive a voter's notification by 19.05.2024 at the latest.

Anyone registering in Jena after 28.04.2024 will not be automatically added to the electoral roll, but can still apply to be added to the electoral roll of the city of Jena by 19.05.2024. Without this application, the right to vote can only be exercised at the previous place of residence, e.g. by postal vote. Non-German EU citizens entitled to vote can also register on the electoral roll until 19.05.2024.

Registration on application

1. Germans abroad

The following applies to Germans with permanent residence abroad and no place of residence in Germany: You must register by 21. day before the election (19.05.2024) at the municipal authority of the last - registered - main residence in Germany to apply for entry in the voters' register. Further information and the application forms including information sheets can be found on the website of the Federal Returning Officer.

2. citizens of the Union

Non-German nationals of a member state of the European Union (EU citizens) residing in Jena can decide in the European elections whether they want to vote in Jena under German electoral law or in their home country for the members of parliament there.

If they wish to vote in Jena, they must vote by 21. day before the election (19.05.2024), you must submit an application to the Citizens' Services Department if you were NOT registered in a voters' register in Germany at the last European election were registered.

If you were entered in a voters' register in Germany at the last European election and would like to vote again in your home country in the 2024 European elections, you must also submit an application to the Citizens' Services Department.

If you do not submit an application, you will be registered in the same way as for the last European election.

Further information and the application forms including information sheets can be found on the website of the Federal Returning Officer.

Voter notification

Anyone who has been entered in the electoral roll will receive an official polling card by post at the beginning of May, at the latest by 19.05.2024 (21st day before the election). The voter's notification has two functions:

• Together with your identity card or passport, it serves as proof of eligibility to vote when you go to vote in your polling station on election Sunday. You must therefore take the letter with you. Your polling station is named in the election notification letter.
• If you do not go to your polling station on election Sunday, you can apply for postal voting, preferably online, using the data from the election notification letter.

Application channels for postal voting documents

• From 28.04.2024 (42nd day before the election) postal voting documents can be applied for
• the application via the online mask or by informal e-mail must be made at the latest on the Wednesday before the election date, otherwise the documents will probably not reach you in time.
• Recommended application method: Online application for postal voting documents
• written application / personal visit / authorization: You will find an application form for postal voting documents on the back of the election notification letter. Please use this form if you wish to apply for your postal voting documents by post (send in good time!), by fax or in person or if you wish to authorize a third party to collect your postal voting documents.
• applying for postal voting documents in person, including the option to vote immediately, is possible from 06.05.2024 at the postal voting office in the Citizens' Services Department, Engelplatz.
• In the event of proven sudden illness, postal voting documents can also be collected from the election center on election Sunday from 08:00 to 15:00. To do this, please call the Citizens' Service Office, Engelplatz, 07743 Jena.

• The election notification letters will be sent out from 28.4.2024 and must be received by the voter by 19.5.2024.
• The option to apply for postal voting documents online begins on 28.4.2024 and ends on the Wednesday before the election date.
• The postal voting office at the Citizens' Services Department is open from Monday, 6.5.24 until 6 p.m. on the Friday before the election date.
• The election letter must be returned to the electoral authority of the city of Jena by 6 p.m. on election day (by post or via the city's deadline letterbox or handed in at the election center).

• European Elections Act
• European electoral regulations