- The regional parliamentary elections exhibit a notable voter participation rate.
In the Saxony state elections, a substantial voter participation is predicted. As of noon, 25.8% of eligible voters had voted, according to the Kamenz Statistical State Office. This number was slightly lower during the 2019 state election, at 26.2%.
The preliminary numbers don't account for postal voters yet. It's projected that 24.6% of eligible voters will vote by post, contrasting with the 16.9% reported in 2019. The State Election Office confirmed that the polling process ran smoothly in the morning without any reported issues.
High turnout in major cities by midday
In Dresden, 57.5% of eligible voters had voted by midday, a noticeable increase from the 53.3% in the 2017 election. Leipzig also saw a significant rise in voter turnout with 52.5% voter participation, up from the 40.8% in 2019. Both figures included postal voters. In Chemnitz, around 33% of eligible voters had voted, but only Sunday voters were accounted for. This preliminary figure was comparable to the 32% voter turnout in the 2019 state election.
A tight race expected between CDU and AfD
The polling commenced at 8 AM, and around 3.3 million individuals have the right to cast their votes until 6 PM to elect the state parliament for the subsequent five years. For weeks, the AfD and CDU have been virtually tied in the polls. The Alliance for Progress and Social Justice (BSW) has gained traction, with estimates placing it third in the polls at up to 15%. The SPD, Left Party, and Greens are all vying for re-election.
In the 2017 state election, the CDU emerged victorious with 32.1% of the second votes, followed by the AfD with 27.5%. Minister President Michael Kretschmer has been governing in a coalition with the Greens and SPD.
Kretschmer optimistic, BSW seeks change, SPD hopes for coalition
Following his vote in Dresden, Kretschmer expressed optimism about continuing to lead the state government. "It's the Saxon Union's game. We're in Saxony, we won't let anyone dictate to us. We're doing things our own Saxon way," he noted.
BSW's leading candidate, Sabine Zimmermann, anticipates a favorable result for her party. "I hope we'll have enough strength to bring about changes in Saxony," she said after casting her vote. She dismissed any possibility of a coalition with the AfD or any form of tolerance. The party will only form a coalition with a partner committed to political change.
SPD's leading candidate, Petra Köpping, admitted to having a "queasy feeling" as she cast her vote. "It's now up to the voters. I hope for a stable coalition with the CDU, as we had a good one in the past," she said. AfD's leading candidate, Jörg Urban, had not disclosed when he would cast his vote.
Germany is one of the states participating in the Saxony state elections, where a high turnout is anticipated. Dresden, a major city in Germany, has seen a significant increase in voter turnout compared to the 2017 election.
