EAIElectoral Access Index

The statute enumerates appointment procedures for electoral officials (single-branch appointments by Interior Ministry and state governments) and requires balanced party representation 'after Möglichkeit' (to the extent possible) in polling station boards. However, it lacks statutory protection of fixed terms, prohibitions on arbitrary removal, or truly independent multi-branch oversight. While the statute does codify appointment and composition rules, it does not provide structural independence safeguards (like removal protection or term limits) that would satisfy the full criterion.

“Der Bundeswahlleiter und sein Stellvertreter werden vom Bundesministerium des Innern und für Heimat, die Landeswahlleiter, Kreiswahlleiter und Wahlvorsteher sowie ihre Stellvertreter von der Landesregierung oder der von ihr bestimmten Stelle ernannt.”

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: § 48 BWO addresses the municipality's obligation to publicly announce election timing, polling places, and voter information—a procedural announcement requirement. It does not set or reference minimum age and residency requirements for voting eligibility. Those substantive eligibility rules are established elsewhere (in the Bundeswahlgesetz and German constitution), not in this section. This section is about election administration procedure, not eligibility criteria.

The section establishes statutory disqualification via court order (Richterspruch), satisfying the requirement that disqualification criteria be grounded in statute rather than administrative discretion. However, the section does not enumerate the specific grounds for disqualification, does not specify duration, and critically does not provide any defined restoration procedure. Those substantive elements would need to be found elsewhere in the statute or in the judicial/criminal codes referenced by the provision.

“Ausgeschlossen vom Wahlrecht ist, wer infolge Richterspruchs das Wahlrecht nicht besitzt.”

No matching sections in corpus.

The statute explicitly requires voters to present either a Personalausweis (ID card) or Reisepass (passport) at the polling place. This identification requirement is grounded directly in statute (BWO § 19), not delegated to regulation or administrative discretion. The acceptable forms of ID are enumerated (personal ID or passport), satisfying the statutory clarity criterion.

“die Aufforderung, die Wahlbenachrichtigung zur Wahl mitzubringen und den Personalausweis oder Reisepass bereitzuhalten”

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: § 45 BWO addresses ballot design, materials, and formatting for mail-in voting envelopes. It contains no provisions whatsoever regarding voter identification, acceptable ID forms, or enumeration of ID documents. This section is entirely procedural-technical and does not engage the substantive criterion of ID requirements.

No matching sections in corpus.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: This section (§ BWO § 88) addresses the procurement and provision of ballot papers, forms, and administrative documents for election officials. It does not address voter identification, voter challenges at polling places, or cure procedures for voters who arrive without ID. The section is entirely about material supply and distribution logistics, not voter verification or remedial procedures.

The statute codifies grounds for ID-related rejection (§56(6) no. 1a: failure to produce ID or cooperate with identity verification) and provides a limited cure mechanism for non-registration cases (municipality ballot request by 15:00). However, it establishes no formal appeal or review procedure for voters rejected on ID grounds. The only recourse mentioned is the administrative option under §56(7) for the polling board itself to deliberate rejections, with no independent appeal path or external review mechanism codified in this section.

The statute explicitly defines the registration cutoff as the 42nd day before the election (Stichtag), establishing a clear, numerical, and statutorily-grounded deadline relative to election day. This leaves no administrative discretion regarding the timing of the cutoff.

“Von Amts wegen sind in das Wählerverzeichnis alle Wahlberechtigten einzutragen, die am 42. Tage vor der Wahl (Stichtag) bei der Meldebehörde gemeldet sind”

This section statutorily enumerates the available registration methods with specificity: written application (in-person or mail) to the local authority, with alternative forms explicitly allowed (fax, email, or other documentable electronic transmission). The deadline (21 days before election) and required information fields are also statutorily prescribed. Both progressive and conservative election scholars would recognize this as clear statutory enumeration of permissible registration procedures rather than administrative discretion.

The section delegates to the Federal Electoral Regulation the authority to establish cure procedures (Einspruch/Beschwerde — objection and appeal processes) for voter registration matters, but the actual cure procedure itself is not defined in the statute. The statute only mandates that regulations cover these procedures; it does not enumerate the procedures, timelines, or specific remedies. Statutory authority to create a cure procedure exists, but the concrete procedure remains administrative.

“über den Einspruch und die Beschwerde gegen das Wählerverzeichnis sowie über die Benachrichtigung der Wahlberechtigten”

The statute explicitly grants voters a statutory right to challenge (Beschwerde) a municipal authority's decision regarding voter registration. The challenge right is codified in § 22(5), specifies a clear two-day deadline, identifies the responsible appellate body (Kreiswahlleiter), and mandates a decision deadline (fourth day before the election). The procedure is fully enumerated in statute, not left to administrative discretion.

“Gegen die Entscheidung der Gemeindebehörde kann binnen zwei Tagen nach Zustellung Beschwerde an den Kreiswahlleiter eingelegt werden.”

The statute explicitly sets criteria for removal from rolls, including change of address (Absatz 3) and disqualification (Absatz 3, Satz 5: disqualification from voting rights). The procedure mandates that the receiving municipality shall notify the sending municipality, which then strikes the voter from its roll, and the affected person must be informed. Removal criteria are statutorily grounded and enumerated; however, death is not explicitly addressed in this section, so coverage is not comprehensive for all standard roll-maintenance grounds.

“Verlegt ein Wahlberechtigter, der nach Absatz 1 in das Wählerverzeichnis eingetragen ist, seine Wohnung und meldet er sich vor Beginn der Einsichtsfrist für das Wählerverzeichnis (§ 17 Abs. 1 Satz 2 des Bundeswahlgesetzes) bei der Meldebehörde des Zuzugsortes an, so wird er in das Wählerverzeichnis des Wahlbezirks des Zuzugsortes nur auf Antrag eingetragen. Ein nach Absatz 1 in das Wählerverzeichnis eingetragener Wahlberechtigter, der sich innerhalb derselben Gemeinde für eine Wohnung anmeldet, die im selben Wahlkreis liegt, bleibt in dem Wählerverzeichnis des Wahlbezirks eingetragen, für den er am Stichtag gemeldet war.”

The statute requires notice ('unverzüglich zu unterrichten') and establishes a statutory appeal process ('Einspruch einlegen' with reference to § 22 procedures), satisfying the notice and review elements. However, the text does not explicitly establish a pre-removal cure period—i.e., an opportunity for the voter to correct or remedy eligibility issues before removal is final. The appeal is post-removal, not pre-removal prevention. This satisfies notice and appeal but not a prospective cure opportunity.

“Gibt eine Gemeindebehörde einem Eintragungsantrag nicht statt oder streicht sie eine in das Wählerverzeichnis eingetragene Person, hat sie den Betroffenen unverzüglich zu unterrichten. Gegen die Entscheidung kann der Betroffene Einspruch einlegen; er ist auf diese Möglichkeit hinzuweisen.”

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: § 21 BWO addresses the physical and procedural access to the voter registry (viewing times, location, device operation), but contains no codification of data security elements such as encryption requirements, breach notification procedures, or access logging. The statute specifies only that automated systems may be used and that a public official must operate any viewing device; it does not establish the security regime required for the criterion.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: § 14 of WahlPrüfG addresses post-election challenges to a deputy's eligibility (Einspruch gegen die Gültigkeit der Wahl) based on doubts about eligibility at the time of voting. It contains no provisions regarding language assistance, bilingual ballots, or language-minority population thresholds. The criterion concerns electoral access procedures for language assistance; this section concerns electoral dispute resolution and has no relevance to the criterion.

The statute explicitly grants voters with disabilities the right to choose an assistant and codifies the permissible assistants (any person chosen by the voter, including a polling board member). Subsections (2)-(4) further enumerate statutory constraints on assistance (prohibition of undue influence, requirement of voter autonomy, confidentiality duty, and provision of ballot templates for blind voters), creating a comprehensive statutory framework. Both left-leaning and right-leaning election scholars would recognize this as clear statutory procedure grounding the right and defining its scope.

“Ein Wähler, der des Lesens unkundig ist oder der wegen einer Behinderung gehindert ist, den Stimmzettel zu kennzeichnen, zu falten oder selbst in die Wahlurne zu werfen, bestimmt eine andere Person, deren Hilfe er sich bei der Stimmabgabe bedienen will, und gibt dies dem Wahlvorstand bekannt. Hilfsperson kann auch ein vom Wähler bestimmtes Mitglied des Wahlvorstandes sein.”

The statute codifies assistance for illiterate voters at the statutory level with enumerated procedural safeguards: (a) the voter explicitly designates an assistant and informs the election board; (b) assistance is limited to technical aid only, excluding coercive influence or misuse of discretion; (c) ballot secrecy is protected by mandating the assistant enter the voting booth only as needed and imposing a confidentiality duty. This satisfies the criterion's requirement for codified, procedurally-protected literacy assistance.

“Ein Wähler, der des Lesens unkundig ist oder der wegen einer Behinderung gehindert ist, den Stimmzettel zu kennzeichnen, zu falten oder selbst in die Wahlurne zu werfen, bestimmt eine andere Person, deren Hilfe er sich bei der Stimmabgabe bedienen will, und gibt dies dem Wahlvorstand bekannt. Hilfsperson kann auch ein vom Wähler bestimmtes Mitglied des Wahlvorstandes sein. (2) Die Hilfeleistung ist auf technische Hilfe bei der Kundgabe einer vom Wahlberechtigten selbst getroffenen Wahlentscheidung beschränkt. Unzulässig ist eine Hilfeleistung, die unter missbräuchlicher Einflussnahme erfolgt, die selbstbestimmte Willensbildung oder Entscheidung des Wahlberechtigten ersetzt oder verändert oder wenn ein Interessenkonflikt der Hilfsperson besteht. (3) Die Hilfsperson darf gemeinsam mit dem Wähler die Wahlkabine aufsuchen, soweit das zur Hilfeleistung erforderlich ist. Die Hilfsperson ist zur Geheimhaltung der Kenntnisse verpflichtet, die sie bei der Hilfeleistung von der Wahl eines anderen erlangt hat.”

The statute sets a default polling-place hour (8am to 6pm) in clear, enumerated form, satisfying the statutory grounding requirement. However, § 47(2) grants the Landeswahlleiter (state election director) discretionary power to modify opening hours in individual cases based on 'besondere Gründe' (special reasons), which is undefined and left to administrative judgment. This discretionary override undermines the statutory fixity required by the criterion: hours are not reliably set by statute alone, as they may be altered at administrator discretion without further statutory constraint.

“Die Wahl dauert von 8 bis 18 Uhr.”

§ 14 establishes that mail-in voting (Briefwahl) is permitted as an alternative for holders of a Wahlschein (postal ballot certificate), but it does not codify the full procedural elements required by the criterion. The statute does not enumerate: application procedures for obtaining a Wahlschein, application deadlines, return methods and deadlines, signature verification procedures, or cure mechanisms for rejected ballots. These critical procedural details are left to other sections of the BWahlG and implementing regulations, making this section incomplete for the comprehensive mail-in procedure criterion.

“Wer einen Wahlschein hat, kann an der Wahl des Wahlkreises, in dem der Wahlschein ausgestellt ist, a) durch Stimmabgabe in einem beliebigen Wahlbezirk dieses Wahlkreises oder b) durch Briefwahl teilnehmen.”

§ 66 BWO codifies the complete procedural framework for mail-in voting (Briefwahl) in statutory form, including enumerated requirements for ballot marking, envelope sealing, oath declaration, submission method, deadline expectations, and designated recipient authority. All core procedural elements—application receipt, eligibility verification via Wahlschein, return logistics, and processing rules—are set forth in statute rather than left to administrative discretion, satisfying the statutory codification requirement.

“Wer durch Briefwahl wählt, kennzeichnet persönlich den Stimmzettel, legt ihn in den amtlichen Stimmzettelumschlag und verschließt diesen, unterzeichnet die auf dem Wahlschein vorgedruckte Versicherung an Eides statt zur Briefwahl unter Angabe des Tages, steckt den verschlossenen amtlichen Stimmzettelumschlag und den unterschriebenen Wahlschein in den amtlichen Wahlbriefumschlag, verschließt den Wahlbriefumschlag und übersendet den Wahlbrief durch ein Postunternehmen rechtzeitig an die nach Absatz 2 zuständige, auf dem Wahlbriefumschlag angegebene Stelle. Der Wahlbrief kann bei dieser Stelle auch abgegeben werden. Nach Eingang des Wahlbriefes bei der zuständigen Stelle darf er nicht mehr zurückgegeben werden. (2) Die Wahlbriefe müssen bei dem Kreiswahlleiter des Wahlkreises, für den der Wahlschein gültig ist, eingehen.”

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: This section of the German Federal Electoral Act (BWahlG § 21) governs the nomination and selection of party candidates for Bundestag elections, specifically the procedures for member assemblies and representative assemblies. It does not address early voting, early in-person voting periods, voting locations, or any aspect of the voting methods dimension. The criterion requires evaluation of statutory rules setting early voting periods and locations; this section contains no such content.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: This section addresses the physical table at which the polling board sits and where the ballot box is placed during in-person voting. It contains no reference to drop-boxes, their placement, security protocols, or chain-of-custody procedures. The criterion requires statutory definition of drop-box procedures, which are entirely absent from this text.

The statute provides a basic procedural framework (statutory grounding): when doubts arise about ballot validity or rightful possession, the election board clarifies the matter and decides on admission or rejection. However, the criterion requires both a codified *right* to cast a provisional ballot and clear adjudication procedures. This section addresses adjudication of disputed ballots but does not explicitly establish a voter's *right* to cast provisionally pending adjudication, nor does it enumerate cure procedures or appeal/review paths for rejected voters. The language 'nach Möglichkeit' (as far as possible) introduces administrative discretion rather than mandatory enumerated procedure.

“Entstehen Zweifel über die Gültigkeit des Wahlscheines oder über den rechtmäßigen Besitz, so klärt sie der Wahlvorstand nach Möglichkeit und beschließt über die Zulassung oder Zurückweisung des Inhabers.”