Local elections in Germany: dates in all states, results and rules
Local elections decide municipal and city councils, district councils and in many states mayors and district administrators. Each state votes under its own law and rhythm. This page lists all dates, the official results we have processed and the rules in brief.
- Next local election
- Bremen, 30 May 2027 (with the state election)
- Elections with the 2029 European election
- 8
- Most recent
- Berlin, 20 September 2026
- Results on this site
- Lower Saxony 2026
Local election dates in all 16 states
Last and next election of the councils per state. Fixed dates are usually set by the state government a year ahead; until then the expected year is shown. Eight states vote together with the European election.
| State | Next election | Last election | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremen | 30 May 2027 (with the state election) | 14 May 2023 | 4 years |
| Schleswig-Holstein | expected in May 2028 | 14 May 2023 | 5 years |
| Thuringia | expected in spring 2029 | 26 May 2024 · run-off 9 June 2024 | 5 years |
| Baden-Württemberg | expected in June 2029 (with the European election) | 9 June 2024 | 5 years |
| Brandenburg | expected in June 2029 (with the European election) | 9 June 2024 | 5 years |
| Hamburg | expected in June 2029 (with the European election) | 9 June 2024 | 5 years |
| Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | expected in June 2029 (with the European election) | 9 June 2024 | 5 years |
| Rhineland-Palatinate | expected in June 2029 (with the European election) | 9 June 2024 | 5 years |
| Saarland | expected in June 2029 (with the European election) | 9 June 2024 | 5 years |
| Saxony | expected in June 2029 (with the European election) | 9 June 2024 | 5 years |
| Saxony-Anhalt | expected in June 2029 (with the European election) | 9 June 2024 | 5 years |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | expected in autumn 2030 | 14 September 2025 · run-off 28 September 2025 | 5 years |
| Hesse | expected in March 2031 | 15 March 2026 | 5 years |
| Berlin | expected 2031 (with the state election) | 20 September 2026 | 5 years |
| Lower Saxony | expected in autumn 2031 | 13 September 2026 · run-off 27 September 2026 | 5 years |
| Bavaria | expected in March 2032 | 8 March 2026 · run-off 22 March 2026 | 6 years |
Local election results per district and municipality
From the official result presentations of the election authorities, linked with the municipality and district pages of the federal election.
- Lower Saxony local elections 2026
13 September 2026, run-offs on 27 September 2026. 45 districts and independent cities, 774 municipal councils, 97 joint municipalities (Samtgemeinden).
- North Rhine-Westphalia local elections 2025
14 September 2025, run-offs on 28 September 2025. 54 districts and district-free cities, 373 municipalities with council results, 416 direct elections.
- Hesse local elections 2026
15 March 2026, run-offs on 29 March 2026. 27 districts and district-free cities, 415 municipalities with council results, 0 direct elections.
- Bavaria local elections 2026
8 March 2026, run-offs on 22 March 2026. 96 districts and district-free cities, 191 municipalities with council results, 275 direct elections.
What are Kommunalwahlen?
In local elections citizens elect the bodies of their municipality, city and district: the municipal or city council, the district council, and in the city-states the district assemblies. These bodies decide on budgets, zoning, childcare, schools, local transport and fees.
Local election law is state law. That is why election day, term length (four to six years), number of votes, voting age and whether mayors and district administrators are elected the same day all differ. Germans and EU citizens resident in the municipality may vote, in eleven states from age 16.
Local elections are the only elections where almost every vote goes to people from the town itself. Independent voters' groups are the largest force in many municipalities.
How voting works in local elections
In 13 states each voter has several votes, usually as many as there are seats, or three. They can be cumulated, up to three on one candidate, and split across candidates of different lists. North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein and Saarland vote with a single vote for one list.
Mayors and district administrators are directly elected in all territorial states. If nobody wins more than half the votes, Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia hold a run-off two weeks later; Baden-Württemberg holds a new vote decided by plurality, Saxony a second round open to new candidates.
Seats are allocated by Sainte-Laguë/Schepers or Hare/Niemeyer without a threshold, which is why many councils include independents and small lists.
Glossary: local elections, mayoral election, run-off, cumulative voting
Questions about local elections
- When is the next local election in Germany?
- The next local election takes place in Bremen 30 May 2027 (with the state election). Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt are expected to vote in June 2029 together with the European election.
- What is elected in a local election?
- Municipal and city councils and district councils, in the city-states district assemblies; in Bavaria, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Thuringia also mayors and district administrators on the same day. In the other states mayors are elected separately for longer terms.
- Who may vote in local elections?
- Germans and citizens of other EU states resident in the municipality for at least three months. The voting age is 16 in eleven states and 18 in Bavaria, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Saxony.
- How many votes do I have in a local election?
- Depending on the state one vote (North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein, Saarland), three votes (Lower Saxony, Hesse, Saxony, Thuringia, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony-Anhalt, Rhineland-Palatinate) or as many votes as there are seats (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg). These votes can be cumulated and split.