Landtagswahl: Was Sie zur Landtagswahl in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern wissen sollten

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will elect a new Landtag on September 20. The election campaign will focus on issues such as economy, bureaucracy reduction, internal security, healthcare, education, migration and asylum. To find out which party aligns best with your views, use the Wahl-O-Mat tool, a question-and-answer service that compares your stance with each party's position.

The tool allows you to evaluate statements on nationwide topics by clicking "agree", "disagree", "neutral" or "skip". Parties also provide their answers and explanations. The tool is a helpful aid but not a recommendation. The Thesis and Answers for the Wahl-O-Mat are developed by an independent team of young voters, experts from science, journalism, and education, and employees of the Federal Agency for Political Education.

The team presents 80 thesis questions for the voter to answer. Out of these, 38 are selected for the Wahl-O-Mat, covering important election issues and controversial answers from the parties. The parties are invited to participate, but they formulate their own responses and justifications. The Federal Agency for Political Education, a federal agency under the Ministry of the Interior, promotes democratic awareness and encourages people to engage actively in German politics.

The agency's work is guided by an order from the Federal Interior Ministry of January 24, 2001. Established in 1952, it operates under the supervision of a council comprised of 22 members of the German Bundestag, ensuring a balanced perspective. The Wahl-O-Mat has been available since 2002, providing up-to-date information for both state and federal elections, and European Parliament elections.

The election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will take place on Sunday, September 20, with polling stations open from 8 to 18 hours. Those who cannot vote in person have the option of mail-in voting. Other online voting aids include Party-Check, an analysis tool for assessing alignment with political parties based on 15 to 20 questions, and WahlSwiper, which uses a swipe gesture to answer questions and determine alignment with party positions.

In the current election, 19 parties are permitted to compete, including established political factions and the FDP group. The parties chosen for the ballot were announced on July 30 by the Landeswahlleiter of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The legislative body consists of 79 members, 75 belonging to five factions or a group, and four standing as independents.