Commission President Casts Ballot in Hometown for European Elections

European Union - Commission President Casts Ballot in Hometown for European Elections

Ursula von der Leyen, the EU Commission President, voted in her small hometown of Burgdorf-Beinhorn, Hannover region, this Sunday morning. At around 10 a.m., she showed up with her husband Heiko at the polling station, where she cast her vote in the European election. With 6.4 million people called to vote in Lower Saxony, von der Leyen is among those.

Politely greeting those present with a "Good morning," von der Leyen chose not to speak further or respond to any journalist queries. After briefly striking a pose for photographs, she exited the polling station within a few minutes. Seeking a second term as President of the EU Commission, this 65-year-old aims to secure her position post-election.

Polling stations will stay open until 6 p.m. according to state regulations. By noon, approximately one-fifth of the eligible voters in Lower Saxony had already voted. The state election commission identified a turnout rate of 22.1% at 12:30 p.m., slightly lower by 0.5 percentage points than five years ago. Those eligible to vote could also mail in their votes beforehand.

Germany's 16- and 17-year-olds can now participate in European elections after the voting age was lowered there. Nearly 138,000 Lower Saxony residents fitting this age bracket were able to vote for the first time in a European election.

In 2019, the strongest force in Lower Saxony's European election was the CDU with about 30% of the votes, followed by the Greens (22.6%) and the SPD (20.9%). The region elected 9 of the 96 German MPs to the European Parliament.

The state election commission anticipates around 80,000 poll workers to be on duty in Lower Saxony. Several cities attested to successfully staffing all voting stations.

By noon, Hannover had recorded a 25.4% turnout, lowering it from the 2019 levels. Some 25.4% of the 374,000 eligible voters in Hannover had cast their ballot, the administration disclosed. In Braunschweig, Lowe Saxony, voting districts started with a slightly higher turnout than five years ago.

Smaller municipalities within Lower Saxony embarked on electing their representatives this Sunday.

Read also:

1. Despite being the EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen is also eligible to vote in her home town of Burgdorf-Beinhorn, Hannover region, during the European elections.
2. As the EU elections approach, celebrities and politicians alike are encouraging their followers to exercise their right to vote, including in Hanover, Germany.
3. Ursula von der Leyen's home town, Burgdorf, is one of the many smaller municipalities in Lower Saxony participating in the European elections.
4. The EU Commission has issued guidelines for member states to ensure the security and transparency of the European elections, including in Germany.
5. In Brussels, the EU Commission presidential office awaits the results of the European elections, which will determine the composition of the European Parliament for the next five years.
6. The European elections are an opportunity for citizens of Europe to have their voice heard and to shape the future of the EU, including in Lower Saxony, Germany.
7. Ursula von der Leyen's CDU party has a strong presence in Lower Saxony, as evidenced by their performance in the 2019 European elections.
8. The EU Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, is responsible for promoting the interests of the EU and ensuring the proper implementation of EU laws, including in the aftermath of the European elections.

• Tough return to normality in snow and ice
• Steinmeier joined a moment of silence - a legal battle over an AfD protest.
• German national soccer team on their way to participate in the European Championship qualifying matches.
• The flooding has lessened, but the aftermath of mud remains.