Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) exercised his right to vote on the day of the 2025 Bundestag elections. Accompanied by his wife, Britta Ernst, the Chancellor arrived at the polling station in Potsdam, Brandenburg, shortly after 11 AM on Sunday.
Sporting casual attire after his morning jog, Scholz made his way to the voting location hand-in-hand with Ernst. Their visible unity at the polls exhibits the personal nature of civic duty even among prominent political figures. His visit to the polling booth followed the opening of the voting facilities across Brandenburg at 8 AM.
On this election day, approximately two million eligible voters across Brandenburg had the opportunity to cast their ballots. Each voter is allowed two votes: one for direct candidates competing within ten electoral districts and another for party lists which will significantly influence seat distribution within the Bundestag.
While the election day commenced largely without incident, there were reports of power outages affecting several polling stations, especially within the Cottbus area. These outages left citizens and polling officials struggling with cold temperatures, as heating systems were disrupted. "It's not so optimal, because the people are sitting cold," remarked Andreas Pohle, the Deputy District Election Director, referring to the troubling situation.
Despite the power disruptions, the election proceeded, with local officials ensuring voters were still able to participate without significant hindrances. Reports indicated smooth voting elsewhere, particularly across the majority of the Oder-Spree district, where the turnout appeared steady.
This year's election features 132 candidates from twelve parties running for office. The last-minute campaigning efforts were evident as candidates appealed to undecided voters up until the final hours leading to voting. It's been noted particularly compelling for first-time voters, with around 54,000 young individuals casting their votes for the first time this election.
The political climate has shifted since the last election, which saw the SPD winning all ten direct mandates within Brandenburg, securing over 29.5% of second votes. The AfD followed with 18.1%, and the CDU lagged with 15.3%. This election marks the SPD campaigning with the new BSW party, which is participating for the first time.
The current electoral reforms mean not all candidates who win majority votes will necessarily take positions within the Bundestag. The reform aims to streamline the assembly by eliminating automatic seats for candidates who fare well regionally yet may not represent strong overall party support. This could reshape the composition of the future Bundestag significantly.
Chancellor Scholz's participation, alongside numerous voters engaged on this pivotal day, highlights both the personal and political stakes of the election. Preparations ensued for the eventual tallying of votes, with indications the preliminary results may surface close to midnight. Observers and citizens alike remain eagerly awaiting to see how the dynamics will shift within the political framework of Germany following this election.
According to sources, the State Election Authority plans to announce voter turnout statistics by mid-afternoon, anticipating those numbers to reflect the engagement levels of the populace.
With all eyes turned to the polls, the outcome of the 2025 Bundestag elections could not only reshape local representation but also influence the broader political narrative for the coming years.