Youth Voting in NRW: teens and young adults exert their political power

In an innovative move to introduce children and youth to democratic processes, the federal city of Bonn will be hosting the U16 election from Monday, September 1, to Friday, September 5, 2025. This nationwide youth voting project is part of the U18 initiative and is supported by various organisations, including the German Children's Aid Foundation, the German Federal Youth Council, state youth councils, numerous youth associations, and the Berlin U18 network.

The U16 election aims to strengthen the political education of children and youth under 16 by providing them with firsthand experience in the democratic process. Young people will have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote in a free and secret ballot, mimicking the official format for voting.

The event is organised by the Caritasverband für die Stadt Bonn e.V., who are sponsors of the Catholic primary school Holzlar where the coordination is likely to take place. Youth facilities that wish to participate can set up a polling station and actively accompany the election process. A total of nine polling stations will be set up across Bonn.

The election will be supported by the federal city of Bonn, which is committed to preserving and promoting democratic values through this initiative. The Ministry for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Flight and Integration in North Rhine-Westphalia also backs the implementation of the U16 election.

Most polling stations will be set up in facilities of open youth work. The ballots used in the election will be clearly marked to avoid confusion. The results of the U16 election in North Rhine-Westphalia and Bonn will be evaluated by the Landesjugendring NRW.

Children and youth who participate in the election will gain valuable insights into the democratic process, fostering their understanding of the importance of voting and active citizenship. Information about the U16 election in Bonn, the polling stations, and the results can be found at www.bonn.de/u16-Wahl. The election results are expected to be available online around 8 pm on Friday, September 5, 2025.