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IMPORTANT: Select a location.To obtain application forms, location-specific information and contacts, select a town or zip code.

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Your selected location: Emsland

Which place to enter?

The location is used to determine the responsible office for the selected administrative service. In most cases you can enter your place of residence to find the competent authority. However, there are also cases in which a different location must be specified. Here are some examples:

Birth certificateYou want to get married and need a birth certificate. You live in Hanover, but you were born in Celle. You must therefore state your place of birth, i.e. Celle.

Business registrationYou would like to register a business in Braunschweig. Your place of residence is Hanover. You must therefore state the location of your future business, i.e. Braunschweig.

Apply for a building permitYou would like to build a house in Wunstorf and therefore apply for a building permit. Her place of residence is currently Hanover. You must indicate the place where the house is to be built. In this case it is Wunstorf.

Apply for a postal vote

Read aloud

If you have received a polling card but cannot or do not want to vote in your electoral district on election day, you can apply for postal voting documents. You will find an application form on the back of your polling card. You can apply for a polling card in writing or verbally at the local authority.

You will then receive the following voting documents:

  • a polling card
  • an official ballot paper
  • an official ballot paper envelope
  • an official light red ballot paper envelope and
  • a leaflet with important information on postal voting.

If you collect your polling card and postal voting documents in person from the city or municipal administration, you can also cast your vote on the spot. The administration will ensure that you can mark your ballot paper unobserved and place it in the ballot paper envelope.

Are you unable to cast your postal vote on your own due to a physical impairment or problems with writing or reading? Then another person may help you. Your helper must

  • be at least 16 years old,
  • confirm in lieu of an oath that the ballot paper has been marked in accordance with your declared wishes and
  • keep the information obtained about your vote secret.

Requirements

  • You are eligible to vote in the relevant election and are entered in the electoral roll.
  • If you are applying on behalf of another person: you have a written power of attorney.

Which documents are required?

  • Application for a polling card stating personal data:
    • Name
    • Date of birth
    • your address
  • In case of representation: written power of attorney

What are the fees?

There are no costs.

Process flow

You can apply for your polling card as follows:

  • You go to the city or municipal administration in person and collect your polling card there,
  • You submit a written application - use the form on the back of the election notification,
  • You apply for the polling card electronically, if your city or municipality offers such a procedure (online application, e-mail),
  • You ask a representative who has your written authorization to collect the documents for you.

It is not possible to apply by telephone.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

You will receive your polling card at least 3 weeks before election day. If you have not received it in time, please contact your city or municipal administration.

As a rule, you must apply for a polling card no later than 3 p. m. two days before election day.

The postal voting documents must be received by the municipality by 6 p.m. on election day at the latest.

If you have applied for a polling card but never received it, you can obtain a new polling card up to 12:00 noon on the day before election day. To do this, contact your city or municipal administration.

What else should I know?

It is not possible to apply by telephone.

Do you have a general question, or was your inquiry not addressed by the local contact?

Einheitlicher Ansprechpartner des Landes Niedersachsen

Address: Friedrichswall 1, 30159 Hannover
Timetable
Telephone: 0511 120-5521
Email: ea@niedersachsen.de

Further information

Legal basis

Appeal

  • Objection
  • You can find more information on how to lodge an objection in the rejection of your application for a polling card

Source: Serviceportal Niedersachsen (Portalverbund des Bundes und der Länder)

Further Links

Read aloud
Single points of contact of the state of Lower Saxony, Single points of contact of the countries of Europe, advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families.
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