NRW state election: All set for election Sunday in Bocholt

Next Sunday is the state election in North Rhine-Westphalia. In Bocholt, 54,564 Bocholt residents will be able to cast their vote. Around 12,000 citizens have already cast their postal vote in advance.

Postal voting is on trend, but compared to the last general election, when 17,000 voters made use of it, the number is significantly lower. "We won't reach the 17,000 mark in the next few days", predicts election coordinator Norbert Olbing from Bocholt city council. Voters have until next Friday, 13 May at 6 pm to cast their vote by post at the electoral office on Schleusenwall.

The administration has made all the preparations and is ready to go: Voting is open in 48 polling stations from 8 am to 6 pm. 15 postal voting boards have been set up, three more than at the last election.

Around 580 polling assistants are on duty to ensure that voting runs smoothly. We are still looking for electoral assistants who would like to help out as "jumpers" at polling stations. If you are interested, please contact the electoral office on 02871 953-900.

Masks are no longer compulsory in polling stations, but the city of Bocholt recommends wearing a mask voluntarily to minimise the risk of coronavirus infection.

The city administration has summarised information on the city's website at www.bocholt.de/wahl. There is also a link to the "Votemanager". The results can be accessed via this on Sunday.

The counting of the ballot papers will begin on Sunday at 6 pm sharp, after the polling stations close. The count is open to the public; interested parties can follow the count live in the polling stations, but are not allowed to intervene or comment. The postal vote results will be counted in classrooms at Mariengymnasium.

Incidentally, 27,946 of Bocholt's 54,564 eligible voters are women. Around 3,200 people are allowed to take part in an election for the first time.