Possibility of postal voting as of Tuesday after Easter, April 19, 2022.
Rheine. On May 15, 2022, the election for the 18th state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia will take place. Therefore, in the 15th and 16th calendar week, the election notifications will be delivered to the approximately 57,000 eligible voters of the city of Rheine. The election notification will be sent in the form of a letter. German citizens who have reached the age of 18 on election day, have been resident in NRW since at least the 16th day before the election or otherwise usually reside there and are not excluded from the right to vote are eligible to vote in the state election.
Those who cannot go to the polls in person on May 15, 2022, have the option of casting his/her vote by absentee ballot. To vote by absentee ballot, an application for a ballot paper is required. You can submit an application for a ballot paper together with absentee ballot documents using the form on the back of the election notification, informally, in writing, verbally (not by telephone) or electronically. The following information is required: first and last name, date of birth and residential address, and, if applicable, a different mailing address.
It is also possible to apply for a ballot paper and absentee ballot documents online. A corresponding form can be found on the city’s website at www.rheine.de > City Hall & Service > Elections > State Election. The form can also be conveniently accessed via the link www.rheine.de/briefwahl or the QR code printed on the election notification. The QR code on the back of the election notification is personalized so that the applicant can dispense with entering his/her data; only the date of birth and, if applicable, a different mailing address must be entered. The ballot paper and absentee ballot documents will be sent by post once the application has been submitted. In addition, it is possible to apply for the ballot paper with absentee ballot documents directly at the election office of the city of Rheine. In addition to the election notification, an identification document (ID card, passport, proof of identification) must be kept ready and presented upon request. It is also possible to vote without an election notification.
Important: Anyone applying for a ballot paper and absentee ballot documents on behalf of another person and/or receiving them in person must present appropriate written authorization.
Voting at the election office
The ballot delivery from the Steinfurt district administration is expected at the end of the coming week, so that the election office of the city of Rheine will begin its work on Tuesday after Easter, April 19, 2022. Applications for the issuance of a ballot including absentee ballots received by then cannot be processed and mailed until then. This delay must be taken into account when applying.
In addition to applying for and picking up absentee ballots, absentee voting can also be conveniently done on-site. The barrier-free election office of the city of Rheine is located on the 1st floor of the New City Hall. Open from April 19, 2022, the Election Office will be open from Monday to Thursday from 08:00 to 18:00 and on Fridays from 08:00 to 13:00. On Friday, April 29, 2022, and the Friday before the election, May 13, 2022, the Elections Office will be open from 08:00 to 18:00. In addition, on two Saturdays (April 23 and May 7, 2022), the Elections Office will be open from 08:00 to 13:00. The Election Office can be reached by telephone at 05971/939-565 and by e-mail at .