Voters in Berlin will head to the polls on Sunday, September 20, for the state parliament (Abgeordnetenhaus) and district assemblies (Bezirksverordnetenversammlungen). In this election, those who have turned 16 will also be able to vote in the Abgeordnetenhaus election for the first time. Among candidates of Turkish origin, Die Linke's prime ministerial candidate Elif Eralp stands out.

Berlin, the capital of Germany, heads to the polls on Sunday to determine its political future. In the elections to be held on September 20, 2026, votes will be cast for the Berlin State Parliament and the Bezirksverordnetenversammlungen in 12 districts. The official election calendar in Berlin has been set for September 20, 2026.

One of the notable innovations of these elections is that 16 and 17-year-old Berliners will be able to vote in the Abgeordnetenhaus election for the first time. As part of the changes in Berlin's election legislation, young voters will also have the right to vote in the state parliament election.

Berlin Heads to the Polls on Sunday

Candidates of Turkish Origin Compete

Numerous candidates of Turkish origin from different political parties are also competing for parliamentary seats in the elections. Among these candidates, Die Linke's Spitzenkandidatin of Turkish origin, Elif Eralp particularly stands out.

In her election campaign, Eralp particularly brought up issues such as the housing crisis, high rents, and social policies. Die Linke has made Berlin's housing problem one of the key topics of its election campaign, advocating for the nationalization of housing owned by large private housing companies.

Die Linke and CDU Neck and Neck in Polls

With days to go until the election, public opinion polls show a very close race between Die Linke and the CDU. An INSA survey dated September 15 showed the CDU and Die Linke at the same level with 20 percent. In previous surveys, the two parties had led with different percentages.

Therefore, pre-election polls indicate that the race in Berlin remains open until the final days. However, it is stated that poll results do not replace election results, and the official vote count on election night will be decisive.

Voting in Berlin will conclude on Sunday, September 20, at 6:00 PM. Initial results are expected to be announced the same evening, with the Berlin State Election Commission expected to declare provisional results in the early hours of September 21.

Berlin's Electoral System Changed

The 2026 elections also bring another significant change for Berlin. In the Abgeordnetenhaus election, voters will now cast their first and second votes on a single ballot paper instead of two separate ballot papers. Berlin has a total of 78 electoral districts.

The state parliament has at least 130 seats. Some of the representatives are determined from direct candidates in the electoral districts, while the rest are determined from state and party lists. A 5 percent threshold applies in parliamentary elections.

CDU Was First in 2023 Elections

The last election in Berlin was a repeat election held on February 12, 2023. This election was held after the elections on September 26, 2021, were declared invalid by the Berlin Constitutional Court.

In the 2023 elections, the CDU became the leading party with 28.2 percent of the vote, while the SPD and the Greens received 18.4 percent each, Die Linke 12.2 percent, and the AfD 9.1 percent of the vote.

Following these results, CDU's prime ministerial candidate Kai Wegner became Berlin's Regierender Bürgermeister.

Critical Topics of the 2026 Election

In this year's election campaign, housing and rent prices, transportation, security, education, social policies, climate, and public services are among the prominent topics.

The election is also closely followed by voters and candidates of Turkish origin. Elif Eralp's candidacy as Die Linke's Spitzenkandidatin is considered one of the developments increasing the visibility of candidates of Turkish origin in Berlin politics.

Voters in Berlin will head to the polls on Sunday to have a say in the formation of both the new State Parliament and the local councils in 12 districts. Official results will be announced by the Berlin State Election Commission after the vote count is completed.