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In contrast, the second vote is cast for a political party rather than an individual candidate. This vote is crucial in determining the overall composition of the Bundestag, as it establishes the proportional representation of the parties based on the total number of second votes collected across the country. Voters select from a lengthy list of parties, which can range from 20 to 50 options depending on the state.
The Three-Layered Election Process
The German election framework operates on three distinct layers:
The Federal Republic: Comprising 16 federal states.
Electoral Districts: The states are divided into 299 electoral districts, each with its own ballot paper for the first vote.