In Bundestag elections, there are constituency nominations and Land lists. Constituency nominations may be a party's candidate or independents - i.e. candidates not running for a particular party, whereas a Land list is submitted by a political party and lists the candidates the party has nominated. Constituency nominations must be submitted to the constituency returning officer, and Land lists to the Land returning officer. The constituency electoral committee decides on the admission of the constituency nomination, and the Land electoral committee on the admission of the Land list.
Since the amendment of the Federal Elections Act in 2023, constituency nominations of party candidates can only be admitted on condition that the relevant Land list of the party submitting the constituency nomination is also admitted. This is because a party only wins a constituency seat if it got the most first votes in the constituency and the seat is also backed by second votes.
Legal bases
Sections 18 to 28 of the Federal Elections Act (BWG)
Sections 32 to 43 of the Federal Electoral Regulations (BWO)
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