What You Need to Know | ABC-Z
Berlin has a choice: On September 20, voters will decide on the composition of the Berlin House of Representatives – and on who will hold political power in the districts.
The 2026 Berlin election will also determine whether Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) and his black-red coalition in the Senate will remain in power, or whether there will be a change of power at the Red City Hall.
Here you can find out how the election works, which candidates are running, and what the latest polls indicate. In addition, you will receive continuously updated information on postal voting, required documents, and the electoral system.
Berlin Election 2026: House of Representatives & BVV – What exactly is being elected?
In the House of Representatives election, Berliners have two votes. With the first vote, they directly elect a candidate from one of the 78 constituencies. With the second vote, they choose a party. The distribution of seats in the House of Representatives, Berlin’s state parliament, is determined based on both votes.
More articles from Berliner Morgenpost in English:
The House of Representatives normally has 130 seats, although this number can increase due to overhang and compensatory mandates. After the election, the members of the House elect the Governing Mayor.
In the elections to the district assemblies (Bezirksverordnetenversammlung, BVV), voters have one vote with which they choose a party or a voters’ association.
Berlin Election 2026: These are the leading candidates
In the election for the House of Representatives, voters not only determine the composition of the state parliament, but also indirectly decide who will lead the government at the Red City Hall – and thus become Governing Mayor. These are the leading candidates:
How to apply for postal voting in the Berlin Election 2026
In the House of Representatives election and the elections to the district assemblies, it is also possible to vote by postal ballot. To do so, you must apply for a voting certificate.
The application form for a voting certificate is sent together with the election notification, which will be mailed in September to all eligible voters in Berlin. Further information on postal voting will be available on the website of the State Election Officer (Landeswahlleitung) by August 10, 2026 at the latest.
Election helpers in the Berlin Election 2026: Allowance and registration
Several thousand election helpers will be deployed for the Berlin election. They receive a so-called refreshment allowance. Civil servants and employees of the state of Berlin who serve as election helpers also receive time off as compensation. Interested persons must fill out a declaration of willingness online. Information on registration and refreshment allowance can be found here.
Berlin Election 2026: Who is eligible to vote?
In the House of Representatives election, people are eligible to vote if they hold German citizenship, have reached the age of 16 on election day, have had their residence in Berlin for at least three consecutive months, and are not disqualified from voting.
In the elections to the district assemblies (BVV), EU citizens living in Berlin are also allowed to vote.
This article was originally written and published on the 12th of March in German. It was translated in English with the use of Artificial Intelligence.
