Elections - New layout of constituencies planned in Rhineland-Palatinate
In Rhineland-Palatinate, some constituencies are planned to be redrawn. The reason is that the number of eligible voters in the constituencies in the state should be approximately equal to ensure the principle of electoral equality. Six of the 52 constituencies in Rhineland-Palatinate will be affected, according to the Parliamentary Business Managers of the two major factions in the Landtag, Martin Haller (SPD) and Martin Brandl (CDU), in Mainz. The total number of constituencies will not change.
Redrawing of Constituencies Affect Thousands of Citizens
Those affected by the planned redrawing of constituencies are some tens of thousands of citizens. For the people, there will be no changes in their daily lives. However, it is about legal security with regard to the Rhineland-Palatinate state election in 2026. The planned changes will be as small as possible but as large as necessary, the two Parliamentary Business Managers assured.
The ruling factions of the SPD, Greens, and FDP, as well as the largest opposition party CDU, will bring a joint amendment to the Rhineland-Palatinate Electoral Law in the coming week into the parliament in Mainz. A passage of the law is expected after the summer break in the September plenary session. The changes will then come into force on the day following the law's promulgation.
The following constituencies will be redrawn:
The assignment of the former Verbandsgemeinde (VG) Gebhardshain from constituency 2 (Altenkirchen-Westerwald) to constituency 1 (Betzdorf/Kirchen-Sieg), the assignment of the former VG Bad Ems from constituency 8 (Koblenz/Lahnstein) to constituency 7 (Diez/Nassau), and the assignment of the communities of the former VG Bad Münster am Stein/Ebernburg, which were part of the VG Rüdesheim, from constituency 17 (Bad Kreuznach) to constituency 18 (Kirn/Bad Sobernheim).
Furthermore, the plans provide for a new redrawing of the constituencies: the assignment of the former VG Hettenleidelheim from constituency 40 (Donnersberg) to constituency 42 (Bad Dürkheim), the assignment of the VG Deidesheim from constituency 42 (Bad Dürkheim) to constituency 43 (Neustadt an der Weinstraße), and the assignment of the VG Lambrecht (Pfalz) from constituency 43 (Neustadt an der Weinstraße) to constituency 45 (Kaiserslautern II).
The proposed redrawing of constituencies in Rhineland-Palatinate affects several constituencies, including those in the Palatinate region. For instance, Gebhardshain, formerly part of constituency 2 (Altenkirchen-Westerwald), will be assigned to constituency 1 (Betzdorf/Kirchen-Sieg). The changes aim to ensure electoral equality in line with the state's elections. During the discussions regarding these modifications, both the SPD and CDU, major parties in Rhineland-Palatinate, have played significant roles.
