German Court Rejects Final Appeal on Berlin's 2021 Election Failures

The Federal Constitutional Court ruled the complaint inadmissible, affirming that election oversight rests with state courts.

The Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe dismissed a constitutional complaint related to Berlin's 2021 election mishaps, deeming it inadmissible.
The court reaffirmed that under Germany's federal system, state courts have sole authority over election disputes within their jurisdiction.
The 2021 Berlin elections were marred by significant logistical failures, including incorrect ballots, insufficient voting materials, and long wait times at polling stations.
A repeat election for Berlin's state legislature and district councils was held in February 2023, resulting in a CDU victory over the SPD, a reversal of the 2021 outcome.
The court previously ruled that the Bundestag election in Berlin did not require a full redo, with partial re-votes held in February 2024.