GermanyAufgabe 115 · Politics in a democracy

What does the “active right to vote” (aktives Wahlrecht) mean in Germany?

In the exam (German)

Was bedeutet "aktives Wahlrecht" in Deutschland?

  1. aYou can be elected.Man kann gewählt werden.
  2. bYou must go and vote.Man muss wählen gehen.
  3. cYou can vote.Man kann wählen.Correct answer
  4. dYou must go to the counting of the votes.Man muss zur Auszählung der Stimmen gehen.

Why?

The “active right to vote” means that you may vote yourself, that is, cast your vote. The right to be elected is called the “passive right to vote” (passives Wahlrecht). Memory aid: active = I vote, passive = I am elected. There is no duty to vote in Germany.

Translated with AI. In the exam the question is in German, as shown above.

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More on this topic

  1. Aufgabe 116

    If you are allowed to vote in a Bundestag election in Germany, this is called …

    Correct answer:active right to vote (aktives Wahlrecht).

    Wenn Sie bei einer Bundestagswahl in Deutschland wählen dürfen, heißt das … — aktives Wahlrecht.

  2. Aufgabe 117

    What percentage of the second votes (Zweitstimmen) must parties get at least in order to be elected to the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)?

    Correct answer:5%

    Wie viel Prozent der Zweitstimmen müssen Parteien mindestens bekommen, um in den Deutschen Bundestag gewählt zu werden? — 5%

  3. Aufgabe 119

    Elections in Germany are free. What does this mean?

    Correct answer:Everyone can decide without coercion whether to vote and whom to vote for.

    Wahlen in Deutschland sind frei. Was bedeutet das? — Jede Person kann ohne Zwang entscheiden, ob sie wählen möchte und wen sie wählen möchte.

  4. Aufgabe 120

    The electoral system in Germany is …

    Correct answer:a majority and proportional voting system (Mehrheits- und Verhältniswahlrecht).

    Das Wahlsystem in Deutschland ist ein … — Mehrheits- und Verhältniswahlrecht.

Source

Questions and options: Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), Gesamtfragenkatalog for the “Leben in Deutschland” test and the Einbürgerungstest, as of 07.05.2025 (Annex 1 to the Einbürgerungstestverordnung). The English translation and the explanations are ours, written with AI; in the exam the questions are asked in German. The coats of arms, flags and photos come from Wikimedia Commons, the maps and ballot papers are drawn by us – authors and licences are listed under Image credits. This is not a government service.

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