- Local authorities need more supporters
Several cities in Brandenburg are still seeking volunteers for the state election in seven weeks. The problem is not the same everywhere. While Frankfurt (Oder), Brandenburg an der Havel, Potsdam, and Cottbus have not yet registered as many volunteers as needed, Wittenberge has all the helpers it needs, as a survey by the German Press Agency revealed. Volunteers not only count the votes but also oversee the proper casting of ballots. They receive refreshment money - a kind of compensation. Cottbus offers the most among the five cities.
Frankfurt (Oder) is still short of about a third of the helpers needed. A maximum of 603 volunteers could be deployed there for the state election, a spokesperson said. Around 150 registrations have been received by Friday. Volunteers receive money for food and drinks, known as refreshment money. In Frankfurt (Oder), this is set at 35 euros for the chairperson of the election committee and 25 euros for the other members.
Potsdam and Brandenburg are also still seeking helpers
In Brandenburg an der Havel, more than half of the supporters were still needed. A total of 536 volunteers are needed in the polling stations, spokesperson Thomas Messerschmidt said. As of Thursday, 236 had registered voluntarily. The city also pays 35 euros for chairpersons and 25 euros for the other members of the election committee.
In Potsdam, about a quarter of the supporters were still needed. So far, 1,100 volunteers have registered, and another 400 are required, spokesperson Christine Homann said. "The service at the polling station is a cornerstone of our democracy, alongside the election itself and political involvement," said the head of the central administration, Dieter Jetschmanegg, in an appeal in July. The refreshment money in the state capital is up to 50 euros for the election committee and 40 euros for substitutes.
Wittenberge has staffed the polling stations
The city of Cottbus has already gathered most of the helpers needed. A total of 742 volunteers are needed for the state election, with 680 already scheduled, spokesperson Jan Gloßmann said. Recently, helpers for counting the postal votes were still needed. The refreshment money for election supervisors in the polling station is 90 euros, and for postal voting, it is 80 euros, plus a 20 euro voucher for the city's own businesses.
In Wittenberge, the number of volunteers for the polling station is complete. According to election officer Bernd Hartwig, the city in the Prignitz needs 104 volunteers for the 13 polling districts. The polling stations are fully staffed, spokesperson Martin Ferch said. If more volunteers come forward, the city will take them on as reserve personnel. The postal voting for Wittenberge is counted by the Prignitz district, with around 32 helpers expected for the city's postal voting districts. The refreshment money there is 70 euros for chairpersons and 50 euros for substitutes.
Woidke: "Guardians of democracy"
Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) described volunteers in April as "guardians of democracy" and a guarantee of free and secret elections. The state election officer currently does not have an overview of the total number of helpers needed throughout Brandenburg for the state election on September 22.
Potsdam and the Municipality of Brandenburg, like Frankfurt (Oder and Brandenburg an der Havel), are currently still in need of volunteers for the upcoming state election. The Municipality of Wittenberge, however, has enough volunteers to ensure the proper functioning of the polling stations.
