Munich, March 8 – As the municipal elections draw near, the leading mayoral candidates in Munich are intensifying their social media campaigns, with Instagram serving as a key battleground for winning over undecided voters. The elections, scheduled for Sunday, will decide the city’s political representation for the next six years, encompassing the Mayor, City Council, and District Committees.
Mayoral Candidates’ Final Social Media Maneuvers
The day before the election, candidates were still actively engaging with voters on social media. Dominik Krause, the Greens’ top candidate, made a surprising appearance with former SPD Mayor Christian Ude, discussing Munich’s open-mindedness. Krause also visited Green Party campaign booths across the city, including at Pariser Platz, Neuhausen-Nymphenburg, and Moosach.
Incumbent Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) is engaged in damage control following his ‘post scandal’ involving FC Bayern. In an Instagram video, Reiter apologized to Munich citizens for not disclosing his financial involvement with the football club earlier. He promised full transparency and vowed to abstain from all FC Bayern meetings and decisions until the matter is legally resolved.
Clemens Baumgärtner (CSU) is emphasizing his ‘doer’ image, highlighting his achievements as Economic Officer. In a video with Philip Windsperger, a City Council candidate and popular Instagram personality, Baumgärtner claimed that Adele’s 2024 concerts brought half a billion euros to Munich, and that the IAA also significantly boosted the city’s coffers. Baumgärtner was also seen at CSU campaign booths in Laim and Maxvorstadt, accompanied by fellow CSU politicians such as Markus Blume.
Stefan Jagel, the top candidate for Die Linke, demonstrated his presence at an anti-AfD demonstration on Friday, posting ‘Munich stable – no room for Nazis’ on Instagram. He also humorously promoted a citizens’ petition with a ‘Mietendackel’ (rent dachshund) video, advocating for the Linke’s proposal under Bavarian municipal law.
Understanding the Municipal Elections: What’s Being Voted On?
On Sunday, 1,097,098 eligible voters in Munich will cast their ballots in the municipal elections. These elections, held every six years, allow citizens to choose their direct representatives and shape the city’s political direction for the upcoming term. The decisions made often pertain to local issues, as well as long-term urban development.
Voters will receive three ballots:
- Mayoral Election: One vote for one candidate.
- City Council: 80 votes for the 80 seats on the City Council.
- District Committee: Between 19 and 45 votes, depending on the district’s size. Eligibility for the District Committee ballot requires residency in the respective district for at least two months.
Voters have several options for distributing their votes:
- Straight Ticket: Checking a complete list automatically distributes votes among all candidates on that list.
- Cumulating: Supporting individual candidates by giving them up to three votes each.
- Panachage: Distributing votes among candidates from different parties.
It is crucial that the total number of votes does not exceed the maximum allowed (80 for the City Council), otherwise the ballot becomes invalid. A combination of these methods is also possible; if a list is checked and individual candidates are also given votes, the remaining votes are automatically allocated to the checked list, starting with the candidates at the top.
Election Day Logistics and Results
Polling stations will be open from 8 AM to 6 PM on Sunday. Voters must bring their election notification and an official photo ID. If the election notification is missing, a valid ID is sufficient to vote at the designated polling station.
Absentee ballots must be received by the city by 6 PM on Sunday. They cannot be submitted at polling stations. Absentee ballots can be dropped off in person at official mailboxes at the KVR and City Hall, as well as at special drop-off points (only on election day) located at KVR, Ruppertstraße 19 and 11, and City Hall, Marienplatz 8. The last collection from these special drop-off points will be at 6 PM on March 8, 2026.
For those who fall ill on election day, absentee ballots can be collected from the Kreisverwaltungsreferat until 3 PM on Sunday. A medical certificate, a power of attorney, and the authorized person’s ID are required.
Initial election results will be published on the city’s election website. Voter turnout updates will be available from approximately 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM on election day. The first valid results for the mayoral election are expected around 7:30 PM. Trend reports for the City Council election, including the projected seat distribution, will be presented after 9 PM.
Provisional counting results for the City Council election by candidate will be available on Monday, March 9, 2026, from 5 PM. Verified provisional counting results will be online on Wednesday evening, March 11, 2026. The verified provisional counting results for the District Committee elections will be published on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Run-off Election Possibility
If no mayoral candidate secures more than 50 percent of the valid votes cast on March 8, a run-off election will be held. This will take place 14 days after the initial election, on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Source: https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/muenchen/kommunalwahl-2026-in-muenchen-krank-am-wahlsonntag-was-kann-ich-jetzt-tun-art-1116931
