Fact check: Germany's postal voting system isn't rigged
As Germany heads into three elections in September, rumors are circulating on social media claiming that postal voting is not secure — claims that have also been made about other elections. Here's why they're wrong.
Germany's postal voting system has been the subject of numerous claims questioning its security and integrity in the run-up to the country's September state elections. However, a recent fact-check by DW found that these accusations are largely unsubstantiated. The system has been in use for several decades and has been deemed reliable by independent researchers.
Individual cases of fraud or errors do not indicate that the entire system is flawed, as the DW investigation revealed. While there have been instances of manipulation in the past, such as in Dresden and Bavaria, these were isolated incidents and did not alter election outcomes. The process for handling and counting postal ballots is overseen by public officials who allow for public observation, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Despite these safeguards, the fact-check concluded that the postal voting system remains secure and effective, contributing to its growing popularity in German elections.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
