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Procedure descriptions
Apply for a polling card
Do you want to vote at a polling station other than the one on your polling card?
Do you want to vote by post?
You will need a polling card for this. Please note that the polling card does not replace a polling card.
People with disabilities who wish to use an accessible polling station instead of the one provided must also apply for a polling card.
Tip: You can find out whether there is an accessible polling station in your residential area from your local authority.
Forms/Online Services
- Wahlschein beantragen Dieser Onlinedienst ist vor Wahlen verfügbar, wenn ihn die Kommune auch intern aktiviert. Das wird in der Regel der Fall sein, aber wir können dafür keine Gewähr übernehmen. Fragen Sie daher rechtzeitig vor der Wahl bei der Kommune nach, wenn ein online beantragter Wahlschein ausbleibt.
Responsible authority
the municipality in whose electoral roll you are registered
Details
Prerequisite
You
- are eligible to vote in the relevant election and
- entered in the electoral roll.
Note: The municipality will send you the polling card no later than three weeks (for the 2026 state election, no later than 15 February 2026) before election day. If you do not receive it in time, please contact your municipality directly.
Procedure
You can apply for a polling card
- in person at your local authority
- by another person who has a written authorisation from you
- in writing
Note: If possible, use your polling card for your application. Complete the relevant application fields and return the notification to your municipality. You can also apply for a polling card by fax, e-mail or verbally, but not by telephone. Your application must contain the following information:- Surname
- all first names
- Date of birth
- Address (street, house number, postcode, town)
- if known from the voter's notification, you should also provide the number under which you are entered in the electoral roll.
- via online forms here in the service portal or on the Internet, if your municipality offers this service
You will be given or sent the polling card with the postal voting documents.
Deadlines
You can apply for a polling card no later than 3 p.m. on the second day before the Bundestag election and before the state election (Friday) and 6 p.m. for other elections (Friday). The deadline for the 2026 state election is therefore 3 p.m. on 6 March 2026. Please note, however, that polling card applications should be submitted to the municipality in person shortly before the deadline if possible. Otherwise, timely delivery of the polling card before election day can no longer be guaranteed.
Applications received after the deadline can no longer be processed by the responsible office.
Note: In specially regulated exceptional cases, especially in the case of proven sudden illness, you can still apply for a polling card until 3 p.m. on election day.
Required documents
if possible: the voter's notification
Costs
If the application for a polling card is sent to the municipality by post, the corresponding postage will be charged.
Miscellaneous
none
Legal basis
je nach Art der Wahl, für die Sie einen Wahlschein beantragen:
Bundeswahlordnung (BWO):
- § 27 Wahlscheinanträge
Europawahlordnung (EuWO):
- § 26 Wahlscheinanträge
Gesetz über die Landtagswahlen (Landtagswahlgesetz -LWG):
- § 22 Wahlscheine
Verordnung des Innenministeriums zur Durchführung des Landtagswahlgesetz (Landeswahlordnung - LWO):
- § 18 Absatz 1 Voraussetzungen für die Erteilung von Wahlscheinen
- § 19 Wahlscheinanträge
Kommunalwahlordnung (KomWO):
- § 10 Wahlscheinanträge
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Innenministerium Baden-Württemberg, 08.12.2025