Campaign aims to prevent AfD majority in state elections

A campaign named "Taktisch Wählen 2026" (Tactical Voting 2026) has launched in Germany with the goal of preventing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party from achieving an absolute majority in the upcoming state parliamentary elections. The initiative is urging voters to strategically cast their first and second votes to ensure that parties like the SPD and the Greens do not fail to cross the 5% electoral threshold.

"We want to mobilize democratic votes and thus stop the far-right AfD!" stated Luise Band, a spokesperson for the campaign. The campaign's website provides a tool where voters can enter their postal code to receive tailored recommendations on how to best support parties at risk of failing to enter the state parliament. This tool reportedly uses current polling data and past election results to generate its suggestions.

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We want to mobilize democratic votes and thus stop the far-right AfD!

Band expressed concern that the far-right AfD could potentially form the government alone in Saxony-Anhalt in just a few weeks, despite a majority of residents preferring to vote democratically. To counter this, the campaign team plans to engage in door-to-door canvassing in cities like Halle and Magdeburg, as well as across the state, on weekends leading up to the election. Social media outreach is also part of their strategy.

The organization "The Goodforces" is behind the campaign, with volunteers involved in its planning and execution. Similar initiatives were reportedly undertaken for elections in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg. The state elections are scheduled for September 6. Current polls indicate the AfD is leading significantly with 41% of voter support, followed by the CDU at 24%. The Left party is at 14%, while the SPD is at 5%, narrowly avoiding the threshold. The Greens, FDP, and the BSW are all polling at 4%, placing them below the 5% hurdle.

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In a few weeks, the far-right AfD could form the government alone in Saxony-Anhalt - and that, even though the majority of people here want to vote democratically.