Germany voting age regulations and eligibility rules

Voting eligibility in Germany varies depending on the type of election. For federal elections (Bundestagswahl), voters must be German citizens, at least 18 years old, and have met specific residency requirements.

In certain states, such as Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the voting age for state and local elections is set to be lowered to 16 starting in 2026. While this expands participation, political scientists note that the impact may be limited due to the small demographic size of the 16-to-17-year-old group compared to older voters. For example, in Berlin, this change would add approximately 55,000 potential new voters, while Mecklenburg-Vorpommern expects about 25,000.

For local elections, eligibility can extend to EU citizens, whereas non-EU foreigners without German citizenship remain excluded from voting at the federal level.