justice
Federal Constitutional Court examines breakdowns in federal elections
As of today, the Federal Constitutional Court is dealing with an election scrutiny complaint from the Union faction in the Bundestag. photo
© Uli Deck/dpa
The federal election in September 2021 was chaotic in many Berliners. The highest German court is examining the extent to which the vote must be repeated.
The Federal Constitutional Court held a hearing about the breakdowns in the Bundestag elections 2021 in Berlin and their consequences have begun. Among other things, it is about how many constituencies the election has to be repeated and whether in this case the casting of the second vote – i.e. for a party or group – is sufficient. The Second Senate of Germany’s highest court, for example, wants to examine the extent to which long waiting times and voting after 6 p.m. are electoral errors. “You see, we have an impressive program for today,” said Doris König, the chairwoman. A decision is expected in a few months.
The background is an election scrutiny complaint by the Union faction in the Bundestag (Az. 2 BvC 4/23). From their point of view, the election would have to be repeated in more constituencies than decided by the plenum with the votes of the SPD, Greens and FDP. There are more than 60 other complaints in Karlsruhe relating to the federal elections.
The election on September 26, 2021 was chaotic in many Berlin polling stations: there were long queues and waiting times, wrong or missing ballot papers. Polling stations had to close temporarily or stay open well after 6 p.m. According to the information given in 1713, objections were raised to the Bundestag against the Bundestag elections in the state of Berlin, including one from the Federal Returning Officer.