Bocholt votes: The local election 2025

Who can vote?

In local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, all persons are eligible to vote who

• are at least 16 years old,
  
  
• have had their main residence in the municipality for at least 16 days
  
  
• have German citizenship or citizenship of another EU member state.
  (Anyone who has dual nationality with an EU country may also vote).

Eligible to vote in the Integration Council elections are

• People who hold a foreign nationality,
  
  
• People who have obtained German citizenship through naturalisation,
  
  
• People who have acquired German citizenship through one of their parents having legally resided in Germany for eight years and having an unlimited right of residence.

Which parties are running for council elections in Bocholt?

The following parties are running for council elections in Bocholt:

• Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU)
  
  
• Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
  
  
• ALLIANCE 90/THE GREENS (GREEN PARTY)
  
  
• Bocholt City Party (Stadtpartei Bocholt)
  
  
• Free Democratic Party (FDP)
  
  
• The Left Party (Die Linke)
  
  
• Alternative for Germany (AfD)
  
  
• Bocholt Social List (Soziale Liste Bocholt)
  
  
• Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance - Reason and Justice (BSW)

Mayoral election: Which candidates are standing?

The following people are running for mayor in Bocholt (in alphabetical order):

• Frank Büning (BSW)
  
  
• Ludger Bußkamp (AfD)
  
  
• Thomas Kerkhoff (CDU)
  
  
• Christian Mangen (SPD, City Party, FDP)
  
  
• Bärbel Sauer (Bocholt Social List)

How can I cast my vote?

There are basically three options for the local elections:

• At the polling station
  On election day, 14 September 2025, votes can be cast in the traditional way at the relevant polling station. There are 40 polling stations throughout Bocholt. The address of your own polling station can be found on the polling card, which all eligible voters will receive by post in good time. The polling stations close punctually at 6 pm on election Sunday - and the counting of votes begins.
  
  
• Postal voting
  If you are unable to vote on election day or prefer to vote from home, you can vote by post. The documents can be applied for online or in person at the city's electoral office. Votes can be cast conveniently by post using the documents sent to you. Important: The documents must be returned in good time so that they arrive before the polling stations close on election day. Further information on postal voting can be found under Frequently asked questions.
  
  
• On site at the polling station
  In many cities - including Bocholt - it is also possible to vote directly at the polling station at the Mariengymnasium in Bocholt before election day. Postal voting documents are issued there and votes can be cast directly on the spot.