Berlin election mail-in ballot portal back online after disruption

Voters in Berlin can once again use the online portal to request mail-in ballots for the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and district assemblies. The portal had been experiencing disruptions since Monday, causing concern among voters eager to cast their ballots by mail.

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Whether the disruption has now been sustainably resolved is still being checked and will be monitored.

David Czerny, head of the State Office for Elections, confirmed that following internal tests, the online application for absentee ballots is now available. However, he cautioned that ongoing checks are being conducted to ensure the issue has been permanently resolved. The disruption had raised questions about the security and reliability of the digital infrastructure supporting the electoral process.

Authorities are investigating a potential link between the portal outage and a recent hacker attack that affected parts of the Berlin administration. Czerny stated that, based on current findings, there is no apparent connection between the two incidents. A press conference regarding the hacker attack was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, with the Governing Mayor Kai Wegner and Interior Senator Iris Spranger expected to provide details.

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I expect a proportion of around 45 percent this time.

Mail-in voting has become increasingly popular in Berlin and across Germany. State Election Director Stephan Bröchler anticipates that around 45 percent of voters will opt for mail-in ballots in the September 20 elections for the state parliament and district assemblies. He noted that mail-in voting is transitioning from an exception to the norm for many citizens.

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Mail-in voting is increasingly becoming the rule rather than the exception.