What are the European elections?

• What is voted on in the European elections?

  In the European elections, representatives for the European Parliament (EP) are elected. The European Parliament is one of seven bodies of the European Union. It has important tasks and, with the laws it passes, it makes decisions on matters that affect our everyday lives.

  These elections take place every five years. Elections take place at the same set time in all 27 EU member states. Each country conducts the election according to its national regulations.

  In 2024, the European elections will take place from June 6 – June 9, 2024. The German federal government decided that Germany will vote on Sunday, June 9, 2024.

• How often is the European Parliament elected?

  European elections take place every five years. In 2024, the European elections will take place from June 6 – June 9, 2024. Germany will vote on Sunday, June 9, 2024.

• Who or what can be elected?

  During the European elections, various candidates from many different parties can be elected for Germany. The candidates run in groups that are referred to as lists. These candidates can then be elected as representatives for that party in the European Parliament. Individuals cannot run for election.

  Which people are placed on the list for the parties is typically decided on during each party’s convention.

  The lists for the 2024 European elections must be submitted to the Federal Returning Officer by March 18, 2024.

• What rules are there for submitting election nominations?

  Information about submitting nominations, lists, and deadlines can be found in the brochure from the Federal Returning Officer “Informationen zur Teilnahme an der Europawahl 2024” (Information on participating in the European elections 2024).

• How many voting districts are there in Germany for the European elections?

  In Germany, the entire country is one voting district.

• When will I know which people and parties are up for election?

  The lists of the individual parties or political associations must be submitted to the Federal Returning Officer by March 18, 2024, and are then reviewed according to the regulations for the European elections (European Elections Act). The Federal Election Committee will decide on the admission of nominations on the 72nd day before the election (= March 29, 2024).

  Once it is clear who fulfils the requirements and may run for election in the European elections, then the political campaigning starts. The parties or political associations typically advertise their candidates for the European elections on their websites, they run ads, and they organise events. They are also permitted to set up billboards on public streets and hang up posters.

  In the 2024 European elections, the Federal Agency for Civic Education’s Wahl-O-Mat will once again go online shortly before the elections. In this popular online self-test, questions are asked and the responses are compared to the individual party platforms. The Wahl-O-Mat can therefore help you find out which party best represents your interests. To the Wahl-O-Mat

• How did Berlin vote in the last European elections in 2019?

  The voter turnout in Berlin in 2019 was 60.6%.

  On the pages of the State Returning Office for Berlin, you can find all the results of the last European elections that took place in 2019.

• Is it important to vote in the European elections?

  The right to vote is a fundamental right in Germany.

  By voting in the European elections, you show what is important to you at the European level and what you think the EU should work toward. You not only strengthen democracy, with your vote you also strengthen the European Parliament as an EU body that decides on the EU’s laws and money. European law-making has significant impacts on what is possible at the national level.

  And here’s something more: If you want the European Parliament to discuss a certain topic, then even outside of the European elections you can submit a petition.

  There are also many other possibilities for ensuring your opinion gets considered in EU policies. You can find more information on the EU Portal Get involved!

• What effect does my vote have?

  Your vote affects the majorities in the European Parliament and thus helps decide which political group is the largest. By voting, you can therefore indirectly affect legislation and policies in the EU.

• After the election, how do I contact the Berlin representatives in the European Parliament?

  The Berlin representatives in the European Parliament can be contacted at any time if you have questions or concerns about a topic that could be regulated at the European level. You can contact them through the voting district offices in Berlin or their offices in Brussels. After the election, you can find the contact details on the European Parliament website.

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