U16 election for Berlin House of Representatives on September 11

An 11-year-old girl sits in a voting booth during a U18 European election. (File photo)

In the election for the House of Representatives on September 20, Berliners aged 16 and older are eligible to vote.

Nine days earlier, on September 11, younger voters will also be able to cast their ballots - at least symbolically. All children and teenagers under the age of 16 are eligible to participate in the U16 elections. "If you want to engage with political issues early on and take responsibility for our democracy, the U16 elections are the perfect opportunity," says State Election Commissioner Stephan Bröchler.

Election official urges: "Get involved!"

"Gaining experience with democratic elections doesn't just start when you reach voting age." Bröchler's appeal: "Get involved!" How does it work? According to the Berlin State Coordination Office, schools or, for example, children’s and youth recreation centers can register as polling places at www.u18.org. Before the actual U16 election date, they then design their own ballot boxes, print out the ballots (provided as PDFs), and engage with the parties' platforms in a variety of ways. Discussion sessions with politicians are also possible.

16- and 17-year-olds are allowed to vote on September 20

Votes will then be cast through September 11. This can be done either on one or more days at a polling place or by mail-in ballot. On U16 Election Day, polling places will be open until 6 p.m. The results will be entered into a software system and then published collectively. U16 and U18 elections have been held throughout Germany for 30 years now. In Berlin, the voting age at the state level was lowered from 18 to 16 at the end of 2023 through a constitutional amendment. In the election for the House of Representatives on September 20, 16- and 17-year-olds will thus be eligible to vote for the first time. For elections to the district councils, the voting age has been 16 for some time now.