German Bundestag moves to digital attendance logs

On 10 July the Bundestag approved an amendment to its rules that will replace the paper attendance sheets used at the building’s 14 entry points with an electronic system. Members can sign in using a chip embedded in their parliamentary ID cards. According to CDU parliamentary manager Steffen Bilger, the change will introduce a “good improvement for the members, efficiency and cost savings.” SPD parliamentary manager Johannes Fechner said the new system could save about 55,000 sheets of paper each year and reduce the workload by roughly 1,000 staff hours.

Critics note that a paper version will remain available “for the time being,” questioning how much the reform will actually digitise the process and whether the promised savings will materialise.

The move is presented as a symbolic step toward Germany’s broader digital‑policy goals, but observers caution that the practical impact may be limited.