Elections to the Bundestag are held every four years. All Germans aged 18 and over are eligible to vote in the Bundestag elections on 27 September 2009, a total of around 62.2 million German citizens - 32.2 million women and 30 million men. Around 3.5 million young people - 1.8 million men and 1.7 million women - are expected to vote for the first time.
The largest of Germany’s federal states, North Rhine-Westphalia, has the largest electorate, with 13.5 million registered voters; it is followed by Bavaria, with 9.3 million, and Baden-Württemberg, with 7.7 million. The states with the smallest electorates are Bremen (500,000) and Saarland (800,000). Turnout at the last Bundestag elections, on 18 September 2005, was 77.7 per cent - the lowest in a Bundestag election since 1949.
A total of 3556 candidates are standing in 299 constituencies for election to one of the 598 seats in the German Bundestag. Electoral law means that the number of Members can rise, however. The Bundestag currently has 611 Members. Twenty-seven parties are taking part in the election, including the six parties which form the five parliamentary groups already represented in the Bundestag: the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) and CSU (Christian Social Union), which form a joint parliamentary group; the SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany); the FDP (Free Democratic Party); the Left Party; and Alliance 90/The Greens. The average age of the candidates is 47.4.
Elections to the Bundestag are general, direct, free, equal and secret. The election is considered to be 'general' because all citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany have the right to vote - regardless of gender, income, religion, profession or political beliefs. They must, however, be aged 18 or over on election day. Germans living abroad also have the right to vote, irrespective of how long they have been living outside Germany.
The election is 'direct' because the voters elect the Members of the Bundestag directly, rather than an electoral college, for example.
The election is 'free' because citizens may not be influenced or put under pressure regarding their decision on whom to support. They are meant to reach this decision freely and cast their vote accordingly.
The election is 'equal' because every vote carries the same weight. Or, as it is often put: one man - one vote. The principle of equality is restricted in one sense, namely by what is known as the 'five per cent clause'. This stipulates that parties which receive less than five per cent of the vote in the election may not enter the Bundestag. This is intended to prevent party fragmentation, which proved fatal in the Weimar Republic.
The election is 'secret' because measures are in place to ensure that voters can complete their ballot papers without anyone observing their choice. Votes are cast inside polling booths, which no one can see into from outside, and the ballot paper is folded before being placed into the ballot box. This means no one can see how anyone else has voted.
On election day, 27 September, the Federal Returning Officer will announce the interim figures for “turnout by 2 p.m.” at around 3.30 p.m. The first official results from the 299 constituencies are expected from 8 p.m. onwards. The results will be published on the Federal Returning Officer’s website (also available in English): www.bundeswahlleiter.de.
The preliminary official result is expected to be announced in the early hours of the morning of 28 September.