Overview

• About 13.7 million people can vote from 8:00 to 18:00, with counting and initial projections expected shortly after polls close.
• Voters are choosing mayors, councils and regional bodies, with key contests in Cologne and Düsseldorf and runoffs set for 28 September where no candidate wins a majority.
• Analysts are watching whether the AfD translates polling strength into local mandates, though it fields far fewer candidates than rivals, including just 86 mayoral bids across 373 municipalities.
• Authorities reported 1,723 politically motivated crimes in the run‑up to the vote, and Interior Minister Herbert Reul cited the deaths of 16 candidates.
• Chancellor Friedrich Merz signaled he will scrutinize the results to refine campaign strategy and the CDU’s approach to competing with the AfD.