Trend towards postal voting for state elections in Saxony continues

The trend towards postal voting is continuing in Saxony for the state elections. In the three major cities of Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz, many tens of thousands of ballot papers have already been issued two weeks before the election. For years, local authorities have observed an increasing trend towards postal voting in the various elections. A new state parliament will be elected in Saxony on September 1.

In Leipzig, around 78,000 people applied for postal voting within two weeks and received their voting documents, according to the city. The rush of visitors to the postal voting office has already significantly exceeded the volume for the local elections on June 9, the city announced. Almost 500,000 voting notifications have been sent out for the state election in the trade fair city.

Around 420,000 people are entitled to vote in the state capital of Dresden. Around 105,000 applications for ballot papers and postal voting documents have been received so far for the state election. In the previous state election in 2019, around 123,000 Dresdeners applied for postal voting documents - that was 50,000 more applications than in the 2014 election. The trend for postal voting is generally on the rise.

The trend towards postal voting is also evident in Chemnitz. According to the city, 24,000 postal voters were counted in the 2014 state election. For this year's election, 26,830 ballot papers have been issued so far (as of 9 August).

Postal voting is actually intended as an exception for people who are unable to go to the ballot box in person on election day due to illness or for other reasons. Its growing popularity is also the subject of critical debate - partly because postal voting does not ensure that people cast their vote freely and uninfluenced by others.