Düsseldorf teenager casts vote in U18 election

In a significant step towards fostering political engagement among the youth, local initiatives, youth groups, associations, clubs, and schools organized polling stations across Düsseldorf for the U18 elections. Last week, over 200 young people in the city seized the opportunity to make their voices heard, with a total of 13 polling stations available.

The U18 elections, which allow young people under the age of 18 to discuss and engage practically with democratic elections, have been a part of the German political landscape since 1996, nine days before the adult election. The results of these elections are published before the respective state election, giving young people a say in the political opinion-forming process.

In Düsseldorf North (Düsseldorf I), the Greens received the most second votes with 33.05%, followed by the SPD with 13.56%, the CDU with 11.02%, the FDP with 8.47%, and the Animal Protection Party with 6.78%. Anas Al-Qura'an of the Greens emerged as the winner in this district with 38.98%, followed by Julia Marmulla (Left), Dr. Zanda Martens (SPD), and Thomas Jarzombek (CDU).

In Düsseldorf South (Düsseldorf II), the race was close between the Left and the SPD, with 17.43% and 16.51% of the second votes respectively. The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance had the highest vote share in this district with 15.6%. The first vote results show Adis Selimi (SPD) winning with 29.36%, followed by Lisa Schubert (Left), Johannes Winkel (CDU), and Sara Nanni (Greens) with the same percentage.

The results of the U18 elections in Düsseldorf can be found on a specific website. Unfortunately, there are no direct search results providing the exact composition of the parties that contested in the two Düsseldorf electoral districts for the city council election in September.

These elections aim to inspire young people about parliamentary democracy, strengthen their interest in political topics, and make these topics more visible. The Düsseldorf Youth Ring managed and supervised the polling stations for the U18 election.

It's worth noting that the local election for the city council of Düsseldorf and the mayor will follow in September after the federal election. The CDU received 11.01% of the second votes citywide, while the AfD received 9.17%.

The U18 elections serve as a valuable learning experience for the youth, fostering a sense of responsibility and civic duty. They provide a platform for young people to voice their opinions and engage in the democratic process, setting a positive precedent for future generations.