State returning officer Stephan Bröchler: “We are motivated” Photo: picture alliance/dpa
From BZ/dpa
Berlin’s state returning officer Stephan Bröchler is counting on a high turnout in the repeat election on February 12.
“I hope that we will achieve a turnout of around 70 percent overall,” he said on Wednesday during a visit to the postal voting center in Zehlendorf town hall. “That’s a very ambitious number,” he admitted. In the election to the House of Representatives in September 2021, the turnout was 78 percent and thus significantly higher. But that was also due to the fact that the Bundestag was elected at the same time. “Elections provide the oxygen for our democracy. That’s why I want a high turnout.”
In the 2021 election, almost half of those entitled to vote used postal voting. He expects about the same proportion this year. “I’m a practicing voter,” said Bröchler. It is still something special for him to go to the polls on Sunday. “I’m not calling for absentee ballots. But we can see that the citizens make a lot of use of it, of course.”
Constitutional courts viewed this development critically, pointing out that the best option is still the election in person, explained Bröchler. “And I would definitely recommend it.” However, postal voting is an alternative that can help to achieve a good turnout. This time, almost 2.8 million Berliners are entitled to vote in the elections to the House of Representatives and the district parliaments. The election notifications have been sent out since Monday.