Land electoral committee

The Land electoral committee is composed of the Land returning officer who also acts as Chair, six assessors and two judges of the Higher Administrative Court of the Land. The members are appointed by the Land returning officer.

The Land electoral committee continues to exist after the main election but not beyond the end of the legislative term. The Land electoral committee meets in public session.

Bundestag elections

In Bundestag elections, the duties of the Land electoral committee include the following:

decide on the admission of the Land lists
add distinguishing designations to Land lists if the names of parties or their shortened forms may be confused
decide on appeals against the admission or rejection of constituency nominations
establish the final election result for the Land list in the Land
establish which candidates have been elected according to the provisional results

Legal bases

Sections 8 to 10, Sections 25 to 28, Section 42 of the Federal Elections Act (BWG)
Section 4, Section 5, Section 35, Section 40, Section 41, Section 77 of the Federal Electoral Regulations (BWO)

European Parliament elections

At European elections, the duties of the Land electoral committee are, among others:

to establish how many votes have been cast in the Land for each nomination
to add – if necessary - distinguishing designations to the names of parties or other political associations entitled to submit nominations, to their shortened forms, keywords or appendages.

Legal bases

Sections 5, 13 (4), 14, 18 (3) of the European Elections Act (EuWG)
Section 4 of the European Elections Act (EuWG) in conjunction with Sections 9, 10 of the Federal Elections Act (BWG)
Sections 4, 33, 34, 70 of the European Electoral Regulations (EuWO)

Last update: 21 January 2025