Local elections 2026
Local elections 2026
The next local elections in Hesse will take place on 15 March 2026. Municipal elections are the elections and votes held at municipal level, which are organised by the 421 towns and municipalities and 21 districts in Hesse on their own responsibility. These include municipal, local council and district elections. Depending on the number of inhabitants in the electoral area, 15 to 93 municipal representatives are elected in municipal elections, three to 19 local council members in local council elections and 51 to 93 district councillors in district elections. In the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg, 71 district councillors are elected.
Electoral system
In municipal elections - provided that at least two lists are admitted - elections are held according to the principles of proportional representation combined with elements of personal election. In this system, each eligible voter has as many votes as there are seats to be allocated in the body to be elected. The votes may be allocated individually or in clusters (cumulating) to the candidates, also from different election proposals (variegating). It is also possible to accept election proposals unchanged, to delete individual candidates from an election proposal or to combine the various voting options. The local elections are the fifth time that the procedure of cumulating and panashing votes has been used, giving all eligible voters more opportunities to cast the votes available to them. Further information on the elections and the electoral system is also available at www.wahlen.hessen.de or www.deinedemokratie.de.
Postal vote
If eligible voters want to exclude any risk of infection, there is also the option of voting by postal ballot. To do so, they need a ballot paper, which can be applied for using the form on the back of the election notification. When applying, eligible voters must state their surname, first name, date of birth and address. You will receive a ballot paper together with the application form:
- one ballot paper for each of the elections for which you are eligible to vote
- one official ballot paper envelope each in the colour of the ballot paper
- a ballot paper envelope, which the municipality has franked
and
- a leaflet on postal voting, which gives explanations in words and pictures on how to cast one's votes by postal voting
Eligible voters can also apply for and collect the ballot paper and absentee ballot documents in person at the electoral office. There is also the possibility to cast the votes directly on site.
District electoral management
The contact person for questions regarding the organisation and implementation of the respective election is the responsible city, municipal or district election management. For the district election in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district, these are the following contact persons.