Germany Prepares for Tight Deadlines in 2025 Early Election Mail Voting

Voters are urged to act quickly due to shorter timeframes for requesting and returning mail ballots in the upcoming Bundestag election on February 23.

• The 2025 Bundestag election was called early following the collapse of the governing coalition and will take place on February 23, leaving voters with significantly reduced timelines for mail voting.
• Federal Election Commissioner Ruth Brand and multiple state election officials have emphasized the need for voters to request, complete, and return mail ballots much earlier than in regular election years.
• Mail voting materials can already be requested, and voters are encouraged to act promptly, as the window between ballot dispatch and the election date is unusually short this year.
• Some election officials recommend in-person voting at polling stations to avoid potential delays in mail delivery, though Deutsche Post has assured timely handling of election-related mail.
• The popularity of mail voting has grown in recent years, with nearly half of voters opting for it in 2021, raising logistical challenges for this year’s compressed timeline.

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