15 parties represented in the Bundestag elections in Saxony

Nearly 3.3 million eligible voters in Saxony can have their say on the composition of the new Bundestag on Sunday (from 08:00). 19 parties submitted their state lists for the election by the deadline in January, including all seven parties represented in the Bundestag. 15 state lists were approved by the state election committee. The polling stations close at 6.00 pm. As the Bundestag election falls in the middle of the Saxon winter vacations, many eligible voters used the postal vote.

In the two previous federal elections, the AfD came out on top twice in Saxony. In 2017, it was just ahead of the CDU (26.9%) with 27.0%. In 2021, the difference was more pronounced. The AfD came in at 24.6%, while the CDU/CSU only achieved 17.2%, putting it behind the SPD (19.3%). They were followed by the FDP (11.0), the Left (9.3) and the Greens (8.6). The AfD won direct mandates in ten of the 16 constituencies. Only in the major cities did the CDU, SPD and the Left Party score points in the first votes.

Because of the electoral law reform, which is now taking effect for the first time, not all winning constituency direct candidates will automatically enter the Bundestag: they will only receive a mandate if their party receives enough second votes, otherwise the constituency will be left empty-handed. In return, the previously customary overhang and compensatory mandates no longer apply. In future, the Bundestag will only have 630 MPs instead of the current 733.