Press release no. 31/19 of 24. Mai 2019
2019 European Election: representative electoral statistics provide information on voting behaviour and the structure of voters
WIESBADEN – As in former European elections, representative electoral statistics will be compiled for the 9th direct election to the European Parliament in Germany on 26 May 2019. The Federal Returning Officer reports that voter turnout and the casting of votes by age, sex and Länder will be determined in just under 2,750 polling districts selected at random. As in other surveys of electoral statistics, the secrecy of the ballot is the primary requirement. First results of the representative electoral statistics for the 2019 European Election are expected to be available in September 2019.
Representative electoral statistics make it possible to analyse the voting behaviour of men and women, age-specific differences, and the structure of voters and non-voters in the territory of the Federal Republic and the Länder at both European and Bundestag elections.
To compile representative electoral statistics, a random sample of approximately 2,250 was drawn from the roughly 72,000 ballot box districts, and nearly 500 were selected at random from the approximately 15,000 postal ballot districts. The ballot papers used in those polling districts have distinctive characteristics printed on them for women and men by six age groups.
Based on the voters’ registers, the number of persons who were entitled to vote and of those who have actually voted, broken down by sex and ten age groups, will also be analysed in determining the voter turnout.
The secrecy of the ballot is safeguarded by the provisions of the Act on Electoral Statistics. The ballot papers do not bear any personal data but only have anonymous distinctive characteristics printed on them for sex and age group. The counting of the ballot papers and the analysis of the voters’ registers will be strictly separated in organisational terms. Also, a minimum size has been defined for the polling districts selected. The polling districts for ballot box voting selected for electoral statistics must comprise a minimum of 400 registered voters in the 2019 European Election. The selected postal ballot districts must have had a minimum of 400 voters in the previous European election of 2014. Finally, results must not be published for single polling districts selected.
For more detailed information on how representative electoral statistics are compiled for the European election please refer to the website of the Federal Returning Officer.
For further information:
Office of the Federal Returning Officer
tel: +49 611 75-4863
www.bundeswahlleiter.de/contact