Nebel wins mayoral election in Velten: Questions about postal voting remain!

Nebel wins mayoral election in Velten: Questions about postal voting remain!

In Velten, the waves have boiled over after the mayoral runoff election at the weekend. The election committee has now confirmed the result: Manuela Nebel was able to prevail with 51.4 percent of the valid votes against her competitor Marcel Siegert from Pro Velten, who received 48.6 percent. The counting of the postal votes attracted a lot of attention on election evening, because while Siegert was ahead in the polling districts, the postal votes were his downfall. Only 38.8 percent of the 1,713 postal voters gave him their vote, while Nebel retained the upper hand with 61.2 percent and thus secured victory. The MAZ reports that it was an interesting experience for Siegert to lose again in the postal vote, after he had already experienced this in 2017 against Ines Hübner (SPD). Even then, the votes of the postal voters were decisive.”

There are reasons for the great attention paid to postal voting. A committee member handed the administration a detailed list of questions, which is primarily aimed at the processes surrounding postal voting. The administration has announced that it will answer the questions in writing as soon as possible. Returning officer Bianka Schmeck signaled that there were no concerns that the election could be contested based on these questions; It's more about clear processes and transparency.

Barrier-free voting as an important topic

Another relevant point in the current discussion is inclusive election participation. The legal regulations enable people with disabilities to take part in elections without outside help. As the Federal Agency for Civic Education explains, voting templates are a valuable aid for people with limited vision and the blind. These templates, which are provided free of charge by local associations for the blind, allow affected citizens to fill out their ballot papers independently and secretly. Physically impaired people also have the opportunity to apply for voting slips so that they can vote in barrier-free polling stations or use postal voting.

The advantages of the templates, which have been available nationwide since the 2002 and 2004 elections, are particularly evident on days like last election Sunday. In addition to voting independently in the voting booth, there is also access to accompanying information that explains the structure of the templates. All of these measures form an important foundation for making the right to vote accessible to everyone.

Right to vote for everyone

In addition, it is worth mentioning that with the legal changes since 2019, groups such as people with caregivers or in psychiatric facilities also have the right to vote. This is an important step towards inclusion and is called for by the Inclusion Advisory Board in order to guarantee participation in the election for everyone.

Overall, the Velten mayoral runoff election not only shows the dynamics of local politics, but also raises fundamental questions about accessibility and the handling of various electoral procedures. It remains to be seen whether the administration can clarify further questions. One thing is certain: the basic democratic right to participate is a central issue here that affects every voter.