Overview

• Roughly 13.7–14 million eligible voters are choosing mayors, councils, district bodies and the Ruhrparlament, with polling stations open from 8:00 to 18:00 and counting to begin after closing.
• By noon, turnout in a state sample reached about 32 percent versus roughly 29 percent at the same time in 2020, according to Landeswahlleiterin Monika Wißmann.
• Local officials reported isolated issues being handled: four Dortmund stations opened up to 1.5 hours late after a manipulated door lock, about 80 Bielefeld voters initially missed an OB ballot and are being visited at home, and a Linkspartei candidate was absent from one Düsseldorf ballot.
• If no (ober-)mayoral or landrat candidate surpasses 50 percent today, runoffs are scheduled for 28 September between the top two contenders.
• Parties and observers are watching for potential AfD gains in councils suggested by pre‑election polling, though the party’s presence varies across municipalities.