Political Affairs - Foreign EU citizens vote in this nation for European elections.
The European elections pose challenges for Hessian municipalities. "This is a tough election in terms of electoral law complexities, as multiple countries are involved," says Stefan Köster from Frankfurt City Office's Statistics and Elections division, responsible for organizing the voting in the metropolis. "Consequently, the issue of eligibility becomes the most convoluted."
Where can EU citizens residing in Hessen cast their vote? "They have the choice of voting in their country of origin or at their current address," Köster explains. This requires an application if they're not already in the voter registry - a step many have taken in previous European elections. In Frankfurt, for example, the letter-sending deadline passed on May 19. The city mailed out notifications to all unregistered EU citizens residing in the city.
Registered individuals receive the "Voters' Notification" and two options: vote by mail or head to a polling station. However, Köster stresses that a data exchange must occur with the home country's electoral authorities to prevent a foreign EU citizen's double voting.
There's also the case of 'expatriate Germans' - those who lived in Frankfurt but later moved abroad. "They're not automatically enrolled in the voter registry, as they're not registered in Hesse. But they can register and vote, as Köster explains. Ballot papers arrive by post, and they can then send back the the red ballot paper."
European elections are set for June 9. According to the Foreigners' Registration Office, around 509,000 EU citizens were registered in Hessen as of March 31, 2024. Suffrage is permitted for those aged 16 or older.
Read also:
- Tough return to normality in snow and ice
- Fewer unauthorized entries: Domino effect through controls
- Trial against BND employee from mid-December
- Xhaka leads Leverkusen to triumph in cup tournament, scoring two goals.
- In the upcoming European elections on June 9, Hessian municipalities, including Frankfurt am Main, will face challenges due to the complexity of electoral laws involving multiple countries.
- Frankfurt City Office's Statistics and Elections division, led by Stefan Köster, is responsible for organizing voting in Frankfurt during the European elections, acknowledging the intricacies of eligible EU citizens from multiple countries.
- EU citizens residing in Hesse have the option to vote in their country of origin or at their current address, requiring an application if they're not already registered in the voter registry.
- Expatriate Germans, those who lived in Frankfurt but later moved abroad, can also register and vote in the European elections, as long as they are not registered in Hesse.
- During the Frankfurt municipal elections, Stefan Köster emphasized the importance of data exchange with the home country's electoral authorities to prevent foreign EU citizens from double voting.
Source:
