🇬🇧English: Mayoral election in Göttingen – how to vote

On Sunday, 13 September 2026, Göttingen holds its local elections, including the election of the Mayor (Oberbürgermeister/in).

Who can vote

You are at least 16 years old.
You have had your main residence (Hauptwohnsitz) registered in Göttingen for at least three months.
You hold German citizenship or citizenship of another EU country.

Polling stations are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Your polling station is listed on your voter notification letter (Wahlbenachrichtigung). If you can’t find it, the City of Göttingen’s street lookup tool or the online city map with all polling stations can help.
Bring your voter notification letter and an ID (a national ID card or passport is enough even without the letter).

The easiest way to apply is online via the QR code on your voter notification letter (Wahlbenachrichtigung), which takes you straight to the electronic form, or in writing using the form printed on the back of the letter.
You can also apply in person at the postal voting office, „Weitwinkel“ building, Philipp-Reis-Straße 2a, 37075 Göttingen (north entrance from Grüner Weg) – open Mon–Wed 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m., Thu 8:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m., Fri 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m., and until 1 p.m. on the Friday before the election (11 September 2026). You can also cast your vote there on the spot.
Applications must reach the city by Friday, 11 September 2026, 1 p.m. For questions, call the office on 0551/400-5080 or email briefwahl@goettingen.de – applications by phone or fax aren’t possible.
Voting itself happens on the paper ballot: return your completed postal ballot by mail or drop it off in person at the office. It must arrive at the city of Göttingen by 6 p.m. on election day – postal delays don’t extend the deadline, so send it early.

For the City Council you have three votes. You can spread them across different candidates and lists, or give them all to one person.
For the mayoral election you have one vote.

We support Onyeka Oshionwu for Mayor. On the ballot paper, she is listed as number 1 (BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN).
Please note: the ballot shows her full name, Onyekachi Oshionwu, not the name she usually goes by, Onyeka. When you look for her, search for „Oshionwu, Onyekachi“.

If no candidate wins more than half the votes, a runoff between the two leading candidates takes place on 27 September 2026.