Voting Rights Deutsch

Voting Rights in Germany

Over 45 Million Residents Disenfranchised

Despite the fact that Germany is a modern and democratic country, over 45 million residents of legal voting age do not have the right to vote in federal and communal elections. This is due to a number of factors, including the country's history, its electoral system, and its residency requirements.

Historical Context

Germany's voting rights laws have their roots in the country's history. After World War II, Germany was divided into two countries: West Germany and East Germany. West Germany had a democratic government, while East Germany was a communist dictatorship. As a result, East Germans did not have the right to vote in free and fair elections.

After the reunification of Germany in 1990, the East German voting rights laws were not immediately changed. This meant that many former East Germans were still unable to vote. In 1994, the German parliament passed a law that extended voting rights to all German citizens over the age of 18. However, this law did not apply to foreign residents, even if they had been living in Germany for many years.

Electoral System

Germany's electoral system is also a factor in the disenfranchisement of foreign residents. Germany uses a proportional representation electoral system, which means that parties receive a number of seats in the parliament based on the percentage of votes they receive. This system makes it difficult for small parties to win seats in the parliament, and it also makes it difficult for foreign residents to have their voices heard.

Residency Requirements

In addition to the historical and electoral factors, Germany's residency requirements also contribute to the disenfranchisement of foreign residents. In order to vote in Germany, foreign residents must have lived in the country for at least three years. This requirement is longer than the residency requirement for most other European countries.

Conclusion

The disenfranchisement of foreign residents in Germany is a serious problem. It prevents millions of people from participating in the democratic process and it undermines the legitimacy of the German government. There are a number of steps that the German government can take to address this problem, including reducing the residency requirement, reforming the electoral system, and providing more support to foreign residents who want to vote.