State Election Mecklenburg-Vorpommern ++ Polling Stations in the Northeast Are Open ++
Approximately 1.3 million people in the sparsely populated state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are eligible to vote on which individuals and parties will enter the 9th Schwerin State Parliament. Polling stations have been open since 8 a.m.
The state election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has begun: Since 8 a.m., approximately 1.3 million people have been able to cast their votes. New this year is that voting is permitted from the age of 16.
Each voter has two votes. The first vote goes to the direct candidate for parliament. The second vote is cast for a party and its state list. It is decisive in determining how many seats the party holds in the state parliament. The five percent threshold applies. At least 71 parliamentary seats are at stake, though overhang and leveling mandates may increase this number.
The election campaign in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was heavily polarized: the AfD on one side — all other parties on the other. This polarization reaches its peak in constituency 8 (Schwerin I), the "living room" of SPD lead candidate Manuela Schwesig. There, AfD "ministerial president candidate" Leif-Erik Holm is challenging her. A look back at the election campaign.
Tagesthemen presenter Jessy Wellmer was in her hometown of Güstrow about a week before the election. Slightly more than 44,000 people live in the Hanseatic city on the Baltic Sea. How are people there looking at the election?
NDR asked the candidates standing in the state election to participate in a survey on issues of particular concern to the northeast, offering guidance on topics including education policy, employment, energy policy, affordable housing, migration and integration policy, and internal security. Here are the results.
In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the SPD was recently able to narrow the gap with the leading AfD. In the ARD pre-election poll by infratest dimap from September 10, the AfD stands at 38 percent and the SPD at 33 percent. The Left Party is the third-strongest force with 9 percent. The CDU is at 7 percent, the Greens at 5. The BSW would fall short of entering the state parliament with 4 percent. As a result, the red-red coalition would no longer have a majority.
Welcome to our live blog on the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state election. Over the coming hours, we will keep you up to date on all developments here. If you are eligible to vote today and are still undecided, the Wahl-O-Mat may be able to help you make your decision.
Our overview page with all topics related to the state election can be found here:
