Voting as a person without a fixed address

Prerequisites

In order to be entered in the electoral register, you must not only submit the required application but also be eligible to vote.
This is you if you meet the following requirements on the respective election dates:

 European elections
- You are a German citizen or a citizen of another member state of the European Union,
- You are at least 16 years old,
- You have been habitually resident in Germany or another EU Member State for at least 3 months,
- They were not deprived of their right to vote as a result of a court ruling.

 federal election
- You have German citizenship.
- You are at least 18 years old.
- You have been habitually resident in Germany for at least 3 months.
- They were not deprived of their right to vote as a result of a court ruling.

state election

- You have German citizenship.
- You are at least 16 years old.
- You have been residing in Hamburg for at least 3 months.
- They were not deprived of their right to vote as a result of a court ruling.

 district assembly election
- You are a German citizen or a citizen of another member state of the European Union.
- You are at least 16 years old.
- You have been habitually resident in Hamburg for at least 3 months.
- Their right to vote was not taken away by a court ruling.

Documents required

- Completed and signed application form
The application form for persons without a permanent residence is available from the district election offices and, in good time before the election, also from public assistance and overnight accommodation facilities and residential accommodation.

Please note

Deadlines

Applications for inclusion in the electoral roll can be made from the day the polling station opens until 3:00 p.m. on election day.

Procedure

As a person entitled to vote without a permanent residence, you can register in the electoral register as follows:
- You submit an application to the election office responsible for you at the district office of the district in which you have your habitual residence
- the electoral office usually decides immediately on your application and, if necessary, enters you in the register of eligible voters
- you can then vote either directly at the election office by mail or in person at your local polling station on election Sunday. If your application is rejected, you will receive a rejection notice from the election office
- the application must be made in writing

Processing time

Unless further clarification of the facts is necessary, the application will be processed and included in the register of eligible voters immediately after the personal application has been submitted.

Fees

No

Legal remedies

On the European elections:


Objection pursuant to Section 15 Paragraph 8 of the European Electoral Regulations for German citizens.


Objection pursuant to Section 17a Paragraph 6 Sentence 4 in conjunction with Section 15 Paragraph 8 of the European Electoral Regulations for nationals of other EU Member States.



On the federal election:


Objection pursuant to Section 16 Paragraph 8 Sentence 2 of the Federal Election Regulations.



On the state election:


Objection pursuant to Section 10 Paragraph 5 of the Citizens’ Election Ordinance.



For the district assembly election:


Objection according to Section 7 Paragraph 5 Sentence 2 of the District Assembly Election Ordinance.

Legal basis

European elections:

• Section 15, Paragraph 2, No. 1, Letter b of the European Election Regulations:
  
  URL: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/euwo_1988/__15.html


• § 16 Paragraph 2 No. 2 of the European Election Regulations:
  
  URL: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/euwo_1988/__16.html

federal election:

• § 16 Paragraph 2 No. 1 Letter b of the Federal Election Regulations
  
  URL: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bwo_1985/__16.html


• § 17 Paragraph 2 No. 2 Federal Election Ordinance:
  
  URL: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bwo_1985/__17.html

state election:

• § 10 Paragraph 2 No. 1 Citizens’ Election Ordinance:
  
  URL: https://www.landesrecht-hamburg.de/bsha/document/jlr-B%C3%BCrgWVHAV9P10/part/S

District Assembly Election:

• § 7 Paragraph 2 No. 1 District Assembly Election Ordinance
  
  URL: https://www.landesrecht-hamburg.de/bsha/document/jlr-BezWahlOHAV4P1/part/X