The Committee for Equal Opportunities and Integration (formerly: Integration Council)

Juan Lopez Casanava is currently serving his third term as Chair. His deputies are currently Gül Balci, Ataf Chaudhry and Gültekin Izgi.

The Integration Council comprises twelve directly elected representatives of people from Bocholt with an international family background, as well as six city councillors. All 18 members have the right to vote on the Integration Council and elect a chairperson and a deputy chairperson from among themselves.

Elections to the Integration Council take place every five years, just like the elections to the City Council . The most recent election took place on 14 September 2025, at the same time as the local elections. The next election will be held in 2030.

• Results from 14 September 2025
  and, by way of comparison:
• Results from 13 September 2020.

Information on the "How", "When" and "Where" of the Integration Council election

• Dates
  • Compilation of the electoral register
  • Dissemination of polling cards
  • Opportunity to inspect the electoral roll
  • Submission of applications for inclusion in the electoral register
• 
  
  Electoral RegisterThe electoral register for the 2030 election will be compiled well in advance and maintained electronically. All persons of foreign nationality will be automatically entered in the electoral register. Naturalised Germans are not automatically entered; therefore, if they wish to vote, they must apply to be entered in the electoral register. The relevant form is availablehere . However, before you submit your application, please wait until the date in 2030 and, if you have not received a polling card, submit your application for inclusion in the electoral register by _________.
  
  
• Voting notifications
  
  Voting notifications are issued on the basis of the electoral register and will be delivered by 24 August.
  The electoral register will be available for inspection at the Electoral Office from 25 to 29 August to give eligible voters the opportunity to check their entry in the register.
  
  
• Postal votingin
  
  The Electoral Office will begin processing postal votes around mid-August at its premises within the Mariengymnasium on Schleusenwall.
  Once you have been entered in the electoral register, you can vote in person at the Electoral Office; alternatively, you can apply for a postal vote before polling day and cast your vote at home at your leisure. To do so, you simply need to request the postal voting documents - this can be done online - or collect them from the Electoral Office. Of course, once you have been entered on the electoral register, you also have the option of casting your vote(s) in person at your polling station on election day itself, in September 2030.

On 10 July 2025, the Electoral Committee of the Bocholt City Council approved a total of five nominations for the Integration Council election on 14 September 2025: four lists and one independent candidate. There are many new faces on the lists; we have highlighted in bold those with an international family background who have already been represented on the Integration Council.

1. European list featuring Juan Lopez Casanava, Ivica Mazar, Gül Balci, Carmelo Nairi, Selda Koldamca, Donik Krasniqi, Redouane Besbassi, Ebtessam Sawiros, Anosh Moradi, Adnan Ali, Dimitrios Karamoussanlis, Irina Fendel, Juliana Berger, Anastasiya Mironava, Teuta Dervishi, Sefa Kormaz, Apanoup Girgis, Miguel Benitez and Khalil Mounir
2. Bocholt list with Abdulkadir Kis, Gültekin Izgi, Akan Üstüngör, Zeyneb Mohammady, Bolat Cura, Selahaddin Öztemiz, Serkan Gürbüz, Nazim Cinar and Erman Elmacicegi
3. 'Together Active' list with Ataf Chaudhry, Rosina Giorgio, Karina Can, Lukas Özdemir, Muhammad Aslam and Ermias Giorgio
4. 'Solidarity' list with Khaled Aidy (deputy: Mohammad Hammoud) and Al Mahdi Al Mhimd (deputy: Ammar Saler)
5. Independent candidate: Carsten Brinks

If you are a naturalised citizen with an international family background, you can use this form to apply for inclusion on the electoral register, provided you have not received a polling card for the Integration Council election by 24 August. Please wait until 24 August 2025 and, if you have not received a polling card, submit your application for inclusion on the electoral roll by 2 September.

Form