Postal voting begins: Election notifications are sent out
Every eligible voter will also receive an application for a polling card with their election notification, which they will receive from now until 30 August 2020 at the latest. This can be used if you intend to cast your vote by post before election day. Alternatively, the online application for a polling card can also be used on the Internet at www.chemnitz.de/briefwahl. Once the application has been submitted, the person entitled to vote will then be sent a ballot paper and the postal voting documents. They exercise their right to vote and return the complete postal ballot letter with all associated documents free of charge by Deutsche Post AG to the address printed on it. It is important that the postal ballot letter is returned to the City of Chemnitz postal voting office by 6 p.m. on 20 September 2020 at the latest. It is also possible to post election letters in the deadline letterbox.
The elections will take place under special conditions this year. For example, pandemic-related hygiene measures will have to be implemented in the polling stations on election days. The polling stations will of course be open as usual for the mayoral election and at the times specified in the election notification. Nevertheless, under the conditions of the current COVID-19 pandemic, we recommend that all eligible voters consider voting by post. By submitting an application electronically or by post, personal contact can be minimised in the interests of the health of all those involved.
From 31 August 2020, it will also be possible to apply for postal voting documents in person for the mayoral election, with the option of voting directly on site as part of the immediate election. However, we would also ask you to check whether it is absolutely necessary to apply for postal voting documents in person on site (combined with the option of instant voting). In light of the current pandemic situation, this option should only be considered for urgent cases that cannot be postponed. Longer waiting times on site must also be expected.
In this context, it should also be noted that the postal voting office will not be located in the town hall as usual this year, but will be set up in the Bürgerhalle of the Moritzhof Citizens' Administration Centre at Bahnhofstraße 53. The opening hours can be found on the election notification.
For a possible second ballot on 11 October 2020, those who have already applied for a polling card and postal voting documents for the election on 20 September 2020 will automatically receive the voting documents for the second ballot by post. Those who did not apply for postal voting documents for the first ballot on 20 September 2020 can apply for postal voting documents for the second ballot from the Monday after the first ballot. The application process will then be the same as it was for the election on 20 September 2020.
Further information can be found in the election notification or at www.chemnitz.de/wahlen.