Indicator history

There are no particular practical obstacles or problems for the group of German citizens with a migration background in exercising their right to vote.

There is no evidence that German citizens with a migration background face particular practical obstacles or problems in exercising their right to vote. Based on poll data in 2002, approximately 5 per cent of voters in the elections to the national parliament were naturalized citizens (naturalized migrants and their German-born descendants). Compared to a survey between 2001 and 2002 on the self-reported participation in elections, the participation of naturalised citizens is only a little bit lower then participation of natives [2, pp.48/49]. For German citizens who have a migration background, the participation in elections is nearly as high as for Germans without a migrations background.

Moreover, the participation of foreigners from an EU member state in local elections and for the European parliament, on the other hand, is clearly below the rates of Germans.

Source:

1. Wüst, Andreas M. (2006): Wahlverhalten und politische Partizipation von Migranten. in: Der Bürger im Staat. 56. Jahrgang, Heft 4/2006, p. 228-234, http://www.buergerimstaat.de/4_06/integration.pdf , Accessed on 16.01.2012.
2. Diel, Claudia/ Wüst, Andreas M. (2011), Voters turnout among immigrants and visible minorities in comparative perspectives: Germany, in: Bird, K./ Saalfeld, T./ Wüst, A. M. (ed.): The Political Representation of Immigrants and Minorities: Voters, parties and parliaments in liberal democracies. New York: Routledge.