From April 7 to 14, Leipzig residents with a history of migration can vote online for 16 members of the Migrant Advisory Council. The advisory board acts as an advisory body and interest group and, thanks to its right to submit motions, has the opportunity to independently introduce issues to the council meeting. Eligible voters can also put themselves forward as candidates for the election until 20 March.
All people without German citizenship and naturalized persons who are at least 18 years old on election day and have been registered as having their main place of residence in Leipzig for at least three months are eligible to vote and stand as candidates. Around 90,000 people are eligible to vote.
In the first election of the Migrant Advisory Council in 2021, the voter turnout was around eight percent; that was 3,467 votes cast. In November 2022, the statutes on the election regulations were amended by a city council resolution and the procedure was simplified. The 16 members to be elected are now distributed across eight defined regions of origin, with each region receiving two seats. In addition, the city council factions each send one member to the Migrant Advisory Board.
In the run-up to the election, the Department for Migration and Integration is hosting weekly virtual consultation hours every Monday from 4 to 5 p.m. until April 7. Participants will receive all the important information about the online election - regardless of whether they want to run for office, vote or support the election. It is not necessary to register for online consultation hours in advance. Further information and the access link: Online consultation hour: election of the Migrant Advisory Council 2025 | Afeefa Leipzig
On March 7, from 5:00 to 6:30 pm, the work of the Advisory Council and its election will be presented at an information event in the New Town Hall.
On March 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., there will be a training session for candidates at the Department for Migration and Integration (Otto-Schill-Str. 2).
On March 27, 5 p.m., candidates who have already been approved will present themselves in the Festsaal of the New Town Hall. As the number of seats there is limited, the event will also be broadcast via video.
With this election, the City of Leipzig is pursuing the goal of strengthening the political participation of Leipzig residents with a history of migration.
Important information on the election can be found at: leipzig.de/migrantenbeirat.
