Upcoming European and local polls draw attention. - Voting locations in Saxony begin operations - no disruptions reported yet.
Around 3.3 million residents in Saxony prepare to vote for the European Parliament and regional councils on Sunday. They have the opportunity to choose from 34 parties and lists competing for a spot in the European Parliament at one of 3,600 polling stations across the state. Additionally, members of ten district councils, 418 city and town councils, and approximately 855 local councils will be elected. These positions will remain in effect until 2029. Notably, while 16-year-olds can participate in the European election, the minimum age for the local election in Saxony is 18, resulting in roughly 70,000 fewer eligible voters for the local election.
The polling stations will shut down at 6:00 PM, followed by the commencement of the vote counting process for the European election; preliminary results are expected around 7:00 PM. This local election also serves as a litmus test for the upcoming state elections in Saxony scheduled for September 1 and a reflection of the AfD's political power. In the 2019 European election, the AfD emerged as the most significant political force in Saxony. However, during the previous local elections, free citizen initiatives and the CDU were dominant.
