Berlin Votes Today: What Is Being Decided?

Today, 20 September 2026, Berliners are heading to the polls to shape the political future of the German capital. More than 2,500 polling stations are open across the city.

But what exactly are people voting for?

Two Elections on the Same Day

Berlin is both a city and one of Germany’s 16 federal states. Therefore, today’s elections take place on two political levels.

First, eligible residents are electing the new Berlin House of Representatives, known in German as the Abgeordnetenhaus. This is Berlin’s state parliament.

Voters receive two votes:

• The first vote is for a local candidate representing their constituency.

• The second vote is for a political party and determines the overall distribution of seats in parliament.

The elected representatives make decisions about Berlin’s budget, housing, education, transport, public safety, climate policy and other important issues affecting the entire city.

Berliners do not elect the Governing Mayor directly. After the election, the new House of Representatives elects the person who will lead the city.

Berlin’s Districts Are Voting Too

The second election is for Berlin’s 12 district assemblies, called Bezirksverordnetenversammlungen, or BVV.

Each district has its own assembly. Local representatives deal with issues that directly affect residents’ everyday lives, including parks, neighbourhood streets, schools, youth facilities, construction projects and local administrative services.

For the district election, voters cast one additional vote for a party or electoral group.

This means that many eligible Berliners have three votes: two for the Berlin parliament and one for their district assembly.

Who Is Allowed to Vote?

For the election to the Berlin House of Representatives, voters must:

• hold German citizenship;

• be at least 16 years old;

• have lived in Berlin for the required period before election day;

• be registered in the electoral register.

This election is particularly significant because 16- and 17-year-olds can participate in a Berlin state election for the first time.

German citizens and citizens of other European Union countries may vote in the district assembly elections if they meet the age and residency requirements.

People from non-EU countries cannot vote in these elections unless they also hold German or another qualifying EU citizenship. A residence permit, student status or long-term residence in Berlin does not automatically provide voting rights.

Eligible voters normally receive an official Wahlbenachrichtigung by post. Online polling-station searches are available to everyone, but finding a polling station through an address search does not confirm that someone is registered or eligible to vote.

When Will the Results Be Known?

Polling stations are open from 8:00 until 18:00. Once voting closes, election workers begin counting the ballots.

Initial projections and preliminary results are expected during the evening. The final official result will be confirmed later.

The result will determine which parties enter the Berlin parliament and which political coalitions could form the next city government.

Why This Election Matters

Berlin is facing major questions about affordable housing, rising living costs, public transport, education, migration, economic development and the future of its neighbourhoods.

The election gives eligible residents an opportunity to decide who should address these challenges—both for Berlin as a whole and at the district level.

The result also matters to international residents who are not entitled to vote. Decisions made by the new parliament and district assemblies will influence the services, regulations and political priorities that shape everyday life for everyone living in Berlin, regardless of citizenship.

Official information and election updates are available from the Berlin State Election Authority.