Overview

• About 13.7 million eligible voters in roughly 400 municipalities choose mayors and local councils on 14 September, with polling stations open from 8:00 to 18:00.
• Postal voting has risen markedly, with requests reaching about 33% in Cologne, 29% in Münster, 28% in Aachen, 26.5% in Dortmund, and 24% in Essen; election offices stress that ballot envelopes must be deposited in designated municipal boxes by 16:00 on Sunday, not mailed or handed in at polling sites.
• Counting begins immediately after polls close, with first mayoral tallies expected around 18:45–19:00 in cities like Oberhausen and provisional results around 21:00, and early figures already include returned postal votes.
• Forecasts point to notable AfD gains in parts of the Ruhrgebiet, drawing close scrutiny from federal leaders and positioning the vote as an indicator of broader political trends.
• Turnout remains a concern after very low participation in some cities in 2020, including 39.1% in Duisburg, as first-time voters aged 16–18 and users of local voting guides head to the polls; runoffs for mayor or landrat will follow on 28 September if no candidate tops 50%.