OB election on September 24

Following an examination of the application documents by the municipal election committee at a public meeting on August 29, the following candidates are eligible to stand for election: Brigitta Lenhard, Thomas Hentschel, Monika Müller, Dr. Volker Kek and Dr. Michael Gaska. Michael Gill was not admitted to the election due to incomplete application documents.

Germans and citizens of the European Union who are resident in Germany prior to the admission of applications are eligible to stand for election. Candidates must have reached the age of 18 on election day and guarantee that they will uphold the free democratic basic order as defined by the Basic Law at all times.

In Rastatt, candidates for mayor must also submit 100 supporting signatures from eligible voters.

Applications had to be submitted in writing to the Historic Town Hall in Rastatt by August 28, 2023, 6 p.m.

The order of the candidates on the ballot paper was determined by the time the applications were received. As Brigitta Lenhard and Thomas Hentschel submitted their applications, the first and second places were determined by drawing lots. The lot decided: Brigitta Lenhard is in first place on the ballot paper, Thomas Hentschel follows in second place.

If a run-off election is necessary, the order of the votes is determined in descending order.

All candidates introduce themselves publicly and in person. There are six rounds of interviews in total.

According to the Local Elections Act, anyone who is eligible to vote on election day is entitled to vote in the Lord Mayor election:

Homeless people who have their habitual residence in Rastatt also have the right to vote.

Voting can be done in advance by postal vote or on election Sunday at the polling station from 8 am to 6 pm. The address of the relevant polling station can be found on the polling card. Voters must bring their polling card and identity card or passport with them to the polling station. Voters will then receive their ballot paper.

Eligible voters who are registered on the electoral roll will receive a polling card by September 3 at the latest. Eligible voters who have not received a notification by this date can contact the Citizens' Office on 07222 972-7114 and 07222 972-7118 or by e-mail at buergerbuero@rastatt.de
The polling card and ID or passport must be brought to the polling station on election day. Voters will then receive their ballot paper there.

Anyone wishing to vote by post can apply for the necessary documents as soon as they have received their authorization to vote by post. From September 20 at 12 noon, citizens are requested to collect their postal voting documents in person from the citizens' office or the local administration offices, as timely delivery by post can no longer be guaranteed.

Anyone who has applied for postal voting documents for the election on September 24 will also be sent these for the possible run-off election on October 15 - but only if this has been explicitly requested.

The polling card and postal voting documents will be sent by post from Monday, September 4 at the earliest. As it may take a few working days to send them, you should submit your application in good time.

Each voter has one vote and can thus vote for one candidate. To cast a vote, a cross must be entered after one of the pre-printed names. However, it is also possible to enter the name of another eligible person on the ballot paper.

Yes, so that blind and visually impaired citizens can cast their vote in the Lord Mayor election without assistance, ballot paper templates will be sent free of charge to all recipients of state aid for the blind in Rastatt. In addition, a ballot paper template will be made available at every polling station.

The Lord Mayor election is a majority election. The person who receives more than half of the valid votes is elected.

If no one person receives more than half of the valid votes, a run-off election will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2023, between the two persons who received the highest number of votes in the first election; in the event of an equal number of votes, the election will be decided by drawing lots.