Saxony-Anhalt: AfD far stronger at polling stations than among postal voters
Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
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Outcome reported
- The AfD received 51.2% of votes cast at polling stations in Saxony-Anhalt, but 24.3% of valid postal votes, matching the CDU's postal result.
- The party won 43.8% overall and 39 seats, three short of the 42 needed for an outright majority.
- AfD politicians had urged supporters to vote in person after repeatedly questioning the security and legality of postal voting, while election researchers cited broader reasons for the difference.
The AfD performed dramatically better at polling stations than in postal voting in Saxony-Anhalt, according to the preliminary result of the state election. Without postal ballots, the party would have mathematically secured an absolute majority of seats in the state parliament.
Among voters who cast their ballots in person, the party received 51.2%. In postal voting, however, it won only 24.3% of valid ballots, the same share as the CDU. The CDU received just 14.5% among voters at polling stations.
Overall, the AfD took 43.8% and 39 seats in the new parliament. An outright majority requires 42 seats. The CDU fell sharply from 37.1% in the 2021 state election to 17.2% in the preliminary result.
The AfD is classified as far-right by Saxony-Anhalt's domestic intelligence agency. Its politicians have repeatedly questioned the security and legality of postal voting, generally without providing specific evidence, and urged supporters to vote at polling stations. Election researchers said the party's weaker postal results also reflect other factors.
About this summary
Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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