Turnout in Hamburg falls to record low

Only every second person makes with. Politicians push for amendment of the complicated electoral system. "More Democracy" justifies method.

Hamburg. The turnout in Hamburg has dropped to a historic low. She slid ARD projections (as of 21.36 clock) to 56.6 percent. Thus, the previous record low of 57.3 percent from 2011 was again undercut. 24,158 ballots were invalid.

In view of this development exercised Hamburger leaders on election night again criticizing the previous election. "It does not necessarily help to bring those to the polls that do not have such a high affinity for politics," said President citizenship Carola Veit (SPD). The politician is convinced that we must focus on the mobilization of voters among the young. SPD parliamentary leader Andreas Dressel said the TV station Hamburg 1, especially in socially disadvantaged districts, voter turnout has dropped more than in other neighborhoods. He pleaded to think about the issue of simplifying the electoral law. Frightened by the low turnout showed Hamburg Bishop Kirsten Fehr. "It can not be indifferent to us, who rules our city," she said. The Left Party politician Dora Heyenn said on ARD: "Pity again fewer people turned out to vote."

In fact, the electoral law in force since 2011 has some quirks. Each voter has ten votes - five for the constituency lists and five for the party lists. He can at a party or a candidate accumulate (accumulate), or distribute (panaschieren).

Four years ago, was more than a quarter of non-voters, for not going to the polls because of the relatively complicated procedure. But not only that: The more votes suffrage costs increased to EUR 15.7 million (2011). Ten years ago, they stood at 1.3 million euros. The society more democratic and brought the new electoral law on the way, however, defended the new practice. "It will take time for the citizens have become more comfortable with," said Manfred Brandt initiator. Now the hamburger could opt for constituency candidates of different parties. Also, the left "earlier carved in stone country lists shake up cheerfully," he added. Members of "more democracy" do not see it as established that the new electoral law have led to a fall in the turnout. They point out that this corresponds to a general trend in Germany. In other states, the turnout has declined in recent years.

The Hamburg state election 1953, she was still at 80.9 percent. Also in the 1990s were still nearly 70 percent of voters to the polls.

Meanwhile, there are in the Union faction in the Bundestag efforts against the falling turnout. CDU and CSU have agreed according to a report in the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" on proposals to increase voter turnout in Germany. 

So the polls are to have future open longer. In European, federal and state elections polling stations should continue to remain open 8-20 clock, it said. So far, close the polls by 18 clock.