Record Voter Turnout in German Election Highlights Representation Gaps

Despite the highest turnout since reunification, millions of Germans remain unrepresented due to non-voting, invalid ballots, and the electoral threshold.

• The 2025 German federal election saw the highest voter turnout since reunification, but 33.8 million eligible voters did not cast a valid ballot.
• The CDU/CSU emerged as the leading party, securing 28.5% of the vote, though this represents only 17% of the total population when non-voters are considered.
• A potential CDU/CSU and SPD coalition would represent just 37% of eligible voters and only about a quarter of the total population, raising concerns about democratic representation.
• East Germany faces significant underrepresentation, with high non-voting rates and many votes cast for parties that failed to meet the 5% threshold for parliamentary entry.
• The election results also spotlight regional divides, as support for the CDU/CSU and SPD is concentrated in western and rural areas, while opposition parties dominate in the east and urban centers.

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