Berlin is one of Europe's most cosmopolitan cities, home to people from almost every country on earth. Yet when the city-state holds its elections, a significant share of those residents has no say whatsoever. According to recent reporting, a quarter of Berlin's population is excluded from voting because they do not hold German citizenship — and this is the highest proportion of excluded residents yet recorded. For the hundreds of thousands of expats, long-term immigrants and international workers who call Berlin home, this is more than a political footnote. It is a direct reminder of the limits that non-citizenship places on participation in the society they live in every day.
In Germany, the right to vote in federal and state (Länder) elections — including Berlin's city-state elections — is reserved for German citizens. This means that even if you have lived in Berlin for many years, pay taxes, send your children to local schools, and depend on the city's housing and transport policies, you have no formal vote on who makes those decisions.
The only partial exception exists at the local (municipal) level for citizens of other European Union member states, who may vote in certain local elections under EU rules. However, non-EU nationals — regardless of how long they have lived in Germany or what residence status they hold — are fully excluded from all German elections.
The fact that a quarter of Berlin residents now fall into this excluded category reflects how international the city has become. Berlin has attracted large communities from across the EU, from Turkey, from Arab countries, from the United States and from many other parts of the world. Many of these residents have built their lives here permanently but have not obtained — or are not yet eligible for — German citizenship.
The reporting notes that this excluded share is the highest on record for a Berlin election. This reflects a long-term trend: Berlin's international population has grown steadily, while the pace of naturalisation has not kept up. Many long-term residents either do not meet the requirements for Einbürgerung yet, are in the process of applying, or have chosen not to pursue it — sometimes because their home country does not permit dual citizenship, though Germany has in recent years broadened the conditions under which dual nationality is accepted.
The result is a growing democratic gap: a larger and larger portion of the people who are governed by Berlin's elected officials have no voice in choosing them.
Many affected residents are unhappy with the situation, according to the reporting. The frustration is understandable: local elections determine policies on rent control, public transport, schools, social services and the overall direction of the city — all of which affect non-citizen residents just as much as citizens. Being unable to vote can feel like a form of exclusion from the community you actively participate in.
Some advocacy groups and political voices in Germany have long called for extending at least local voting rights to long-term non-EU residents, but this would require changes to German law and, in some interpretations, to the German constitution. No such change is currently in force.
If you are a foreign resident in Berlin and want your voice to matter in future elections, the most direct route is Einbürgerung — German naturalisation. Germany has made it somewhat easier to obtain citizenship in recent years, including broader acceptance of dual nationality in certain circumstances. You can find information on eligibility requirements through the official Berlin city administration and through BAMF.
If you hold citizenship of another EU member state, check what local voting rights may apply to you — this is a separate and more limited category of participation.
Beyond formal voting, residents can also engage through community organisations, tenant associations (Mieterverein), petition processes and consultative bodies that some Berlin districts operate for non-citizen residents.
As an EU citizen living in Berlin, you may have the right to vote in certain local (Bezirk) elections, but not in the Berlin city-state (Abgeordnetenhaus) election or in federal (Bundestag) elections. The rules can be complex, so it is worth checking the current official guidance from the Berlin Senate's electoral office.
To vote in state and federal elections in Germany, you need to become a German citizen through Einbürgerung. Eligibility depends on factors including how long you have lived in Germany, your language skills, financial self-sufficiency and other criteria. BAMF and your local Ausländerbehörde or Einbürgerungsbehörde can advise you on your individual situation.
Your right to live and work in Germany, access services and hold an Aufenthaltstitel is separate from voting rights. However, if you are uncertain how any policy changes might affect your specific residence status, consult a qualified immigration lawyer or your Ausländerbehörde.
The exclusion of a quarter of Berlin's residents from the city-state election is a significant civic reality for the expat and immigrant community. If participating in German democracy matters to you, exploring the path to Einbürgerung is the most concrete step you can take. Start by reviewing the eligibility criteria with BAMF or your local authority, and consider speaking with a legal adviser who specialises in German immigration and nationality law.
Source: dw_english
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