Elections are the basis of democracy. Everyone who votes decides how the bodies which represent the people are made up on a national, regional and municipal level and also in the European Union.

The basic requirement for voting at an election is registration on the electoral roll of the municipality you live in. If you are already registered, you will receive an election notification card shortly before the election date.

All EU citizens elect the European Parliament
All Germans and the citizens of other EU countries who are resident in Germany are entitled to vote in the European elections if they are at least 18 years of age on the election day, have lived in the European Union for at least three years or have their usual place of residence in the European Union and are not excluded from voting for any special reason. EU citizens wishing to take part in European elections for the first time in Germany have to make an application for registration on the electoral roll of their place of residence.

All German citizens elect federal, regional and municipal representatives
All German citizens who are 18 years of age and above on the election day, who have lived in Germany for at least three months or whose normal place of residence is Germany and who are not excluded from normal voting rights for any special reason are entitled to vote in the elections for the German federal parliament (Deutscher Bundestag).

The requirement for entitlement to vote at the elections for the regional state parliament of Lower Saxony, the Oldenburg City Council and for the Mayor is also German citizenship. You must be a resident of Lower Saxony and be at least 18 years of age to be able to vote at the elections for the regional state parliament of Lower Saxony. To be able to vote at the elections for the Oldenburg City Council or the election of the Mayor, you must be a resident of Oldenburg. Citizens who have reached the age of 16 are already entitled to vote at the elections for the City Council and the Mayor.