A diverse group of enthusiastic voters at a polling station in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, engaging in conversation and showcasing their excitement for the 2026 state election, with recognizable local architecture in the background.

Election Ready: Explore Candidates and Parties Online

1. Quick overview of the Landtagswahl Baden-Württemberg 2026

The state election in Baden-Württemberg takes place on 8 March 2026. This election is held before the regular end of the 17th state parliament on 30 April 2026. A constitutional reform introduced a personalized proportional representation system with two votes, changing how voters choose candidates and how seats are distributed.

Key facts at a glance

  • Date: 8 March 2026
  • System: personalized proportional representation with two votes
  • Constituencies: 70 direct constituencies (first vote)
  • Seats: proportional allocation from state lists with a 5% threshold and at least 120 seats

2. How the two-vote system works

The reformed voting system gives voters two separate choices: a first vote for a direct candidate in a constituency and a second vote for a party list that decides the overall proportional distribution of seats. Both votes are important: the first vote decides local winners in 70 constituencies by plurality, and the second vote determines the share of seats each party receives across the state.

First vote (Erststimme)

The first vote elects direct candidates in 70 single-member constituencies. These local candidates compete in a majority system — the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins the direct mandate.

Second vote (Zweitstimme)

The second vote determines the proportional allocation of seats from state-level party lists. A 5 percent threshold applies: parties must reach at least 5% of second votes statewide to be considered for proportional seats. The system is designed to combine local representation with proportional fairness, and the parliament will have at least 120 members.

3. Parties and candidates to know

Twenty-one parties submitted state lists for the 2026 election. The order of parties on ballots follows the sequence of second votes from the previous election, where the Greens were the strongest party in 2021. Major parties and many smaller or newer parties are represented on the official lists.

Notable parties and examples

  1. GRÜNE (Greens)
  2. CDU
  3. SPD
  4. FDP
  5. AfD
  6. DIE LINKE
  7. FREIE WÄHLER
  8. Smaller and newer lists such as Volt and dieBasis

4. New online tools to explore local candidates and party profiles

For the first time ahead of this election, comprehensive interactive online tools list every candidate in all 70 constituencies and provide short profiles for each party’s state list. These resources make it easy to compare local direct candidates, read brief party profiles, and prepare an informed decision before election day.

How to use the online offers

  1. Search by constituency to see all candidates standing for the first vote.
  2. Read short party profiles to learn the main focus areas and the position of state lists.
  3. Compare candidate backgrounds, occupations and local priorities where available.
  4. Use interactive graphics to get a quick visual overview of who is running in your area.

5. Official requirements and support signatures

Official information about candidate nominations, required supporting signatures and other formal rules comes from the interior ministry. For parties that are not currently represented in the state parliament, support signatures are required for constituency and state lists to appear on ballots.

Signature requirements (examples)

  • Constituency proposals: typically 150 supporting signatures per constituency for non-parliamentary parties
  • Statewide lists: typically around 2,000 supporting signatures required for parties not already in the parliament

6. Polling, trends and what to watch

Public opinion trackers and poll aggregators show dynamic developments ahead of the election and sometimes produce divergent projections depending on methodology. Polls can point to tight races and shifting strengths between parties, but they are not final forecasts of the outcome.

Key dynamics to follow

  1. Leadership match-ups and top candidates — for example, contests between leading figures of major parties can shape voter decisions.
  2. Close polls — aggregated trackers may show varying results and should be read as trends, not certainties.
  3. Local contests — direct candidate battles in constituencies can differ from statewide party trends.

7. How voters can prepare

Use the available online candidate lists and party profiles to inform yourself before the election. Check official announcements from election authorities for nomination and voting details, and follow poll trends with caution since trackers aggregate changing data.

Simple checklist before 8 March 2026

  1. Note the election date: 8 March 2026.
  2. Look up the candidates in your constituency using the interactive candidate listings.
  3. Read short profiles of the 21 parties and their state lists to compare platforms.
  4. Consult official election information regarding nominations and any formal requirements.
  5. Watch poll trends as background context, but make your decision based on information and priorities that matter to you.

Table of Contents

Picture of editor

editor