Press release no. 23/2014 of 21. Mai 2014

Voting right may be exercised only once

WIESBADEN – Equal voting rights for all – that is an essential feature of modern democracy. Therefore, the Federal Returning Officer points out that the right to vote may be exercised only once and only personally in accordance with the European Elections Act. This provision also holds for persons entitled to vote who are also eligible to vote in the European Parliamentary elections in another Member State of the European Union.

To safeguard democratic equality, penal provisions have been established. According to Section 107a (1) of the German Penal Code, anyone who votes without being entitled thereto or otherwise causes an incorrect election result or falsifies the result, shall be liable to imprisonment of not more than five years or a fine. Attempting to act in such a way is also liable to prosecution. Thus anyone casting his or her vote several times in the European election would render himself liable to prosecution.

So, if you are entitled to vote, you ought to cast your vote in the coming European elections – but only once, please.

For further information:
Office of the Federal Returning Officer
tel: +49 611 75-4863
www.bundeswahlleiter.de/contact