The Plattform Wahlen, a joint initiative of EPDE’s German member European Exchange and the EPDE, and the project “Wahlwatching” presented their Election Assessment Mission Report on the Baden-Württemberg state election held on 8 March 2026. The mission finds that the election proceeded on election day without any significant incidents. At the same time, the report identifies a need for comprehensive reform regarding the transparency of campaign financing as well as the legal framework for election observation in Germany.

The mission included analyses of the legal framework, discussions with stakeholders involved in the electoral process, and sample-based observation on election day in 49 polling stations in Ehingen, Stuttgart, Ulm, and Tübingen.

“Given the hybrid interference affecting elections worldwide, it is high time that the Bundestag and the Federal German Government not only take note of the long-standing recommendations of the OSCE on capping campaign donations, increasing transparency in campaign financing, and establishing a legal framework for election observation, but also implement them.”
— Stefanie Schiffer, Director of the European Exchange and founder of Plattform Wahlen

The election assessment mission focused on three key aspects of the election:

• the transparency of campaign financing,
• the legal and administrative regulations governing election observation in Germany and Baden-Württemberg, and
• the conduct of voting procedures on election day.

Conclusion of the election day observation: Voting and vote counting proceeded in an orderly manner and without significant incidents in the observed polling stations. In some cases, the inconsistent application of procedural rules—particularly during the vote count—did not result in any substantial loss of transparency or accuracy of the results, but it does carry potential risks for procedural errors or manipulation. Election observers were generally received in a friendly and professional manner. Despite some initial questions, observation was fully permitted in all polling stations.

The election assessment mission notes that a number of international commitments and recommendations regarding the conduct of elections have not yet been implemented in German legislation. Among other measures, it recommends:

• The German government should provide a response to the recommendations of the OSCE election assessment mission regarding the 2025 federal election.

Party and campaign financing

• The German Bundestag should introduce a cap on donations to political parties,
• The German Bundestag should require political parties to regularly disclose campaign donations and expenditures in a detailed, timely, and transparent manner, and
• The German Bundestag should establish an independent supervisory authority for campaign financing with adequate resources.

Legal framework for election observation

• The German Bundestag should implement the recommendations of successive OSCE election assessment missions and adopt a comprehensive legal framework for international and civil society election observation in Germany in line with international standards.

• In the absence of a comprehensive national framework for election observation, the Baden-Württemberg State Parliament could require municipalities to provide transparent access to standardized lists of polling stations and guidelines for polling station committees.
  

Plattform Wahlen is an initiative of Europäischer Austausch gGmbH and the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), which have been active in the field of civil society election observation in Europe and the Eastern Partnership for more than 20 years.

Wahlwatching is a project by international election observer Dr. Jana Bürgers. It is implemented in cooperation with youngcaritas and actively involves students in democratic processes.