Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Inmates to Vote in State Election

In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, around 650 inmates are eligible to participate in the upcoming state election on September 20th, exercising a fundamental right to vote. The state's Ministry of Justice confirmed that information and voting materials have been distributed across the four correctional facilities in the region, where approximately 990 prisoners are currently held.

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Participation in democratic and free elections is a basic right in Germany, which naturally also applies within the justice system.

Justice Minister Jacqueline Bernhardt emphasized that participation in democratic elections is a basic right that extends to those within the justice system. However, she clarified that election campaign events will not take place inside the prisons, and staff are obligated to maintain neutrality. To assist inmates, small informational booklets answering 20 questions about the election will be provided by the State Center for Political Education.

Based on past experience, voter turnout among inmates in these facilities typically ranges between 10 and 15 percent. For the first time, 16-year-olds are also eligible to vote, offering seven young inmates at the Neustrelitz correctional facility their initial opportunity to participate in free elections.

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Election campaign events will not be held in the correctional facilities.

Participation will be exclusively through mail-in ballots, as is standard for individuals in closed correctional facilities. Inmates without a registered residence can be added to the voter registry of the municipality where the correctional facility is located upon request. Staff will be available to assist inmates in completing the application forms for their absentee ballots, ensuring the principle of secret voting is upheld.

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I am particularly pleased that for the first time, 16-year-olds can also vote. In the JVA Neustrelitz, seven young inmates will therefore have their first opportunity to participate in free elections.