Barrier-free elections 2026: Find suitable polling stations now!

Barrier-free elections 2026: Find suitable polling stations now!

On August 27, 2025, the Mitte district office announced that the election date for the new House of Representatives and the district council assemblies in Berlin had been set for September 20, 2026. District Councilor for Social Affairs and Citizen Services, Carsten Spallek, emphasizes the importance of barrier-free participation for all eligible voters, especially people with physical limitations. The district office is therefore looking for suitable rooms for polling stations that must meet accessibility requirements.

The rooms should meet several criteria: These include barrier-free access and a minimum size of 55 square meters. In addition, bright, open rooms with separate entrances and exits are desired. Toilets must be available, as well as storage space for poll workers' personal belongings and tables and chairs for around ten people. A lockable side room of around 2 m² for election materials should be usable both 14 days before and after the election.

Professional support from the district office

The district office offers comprehensive support for those offering space. This includes professional advice and support from the electoral office as well as the opportunity to negotiate flat rates for provision and cleaning. In addition, the delivery of optional equipment, such as tables and chairs, is offered. There is also the option of remunerating your own staff as election assistants. Interested space providers can contact Mr. Härtl directly at wahllokale@ba-mitte.berlin.de or by telephone at (030) 9018 44513. The press office of the district office is available for media inquiries: presse@ba-mitte.berlin.de.

There is a new edition of the handout for the implementation of barrier-free polling stations, which was created on the occasion of the 2025 federal election. This handout, which was developed by the Federal Office for Accessibility, is a central tool for promoting the equal participation of all people eligible to vote in the right to vote. It offers practical tips, information and checklists for planning and conducting elections in cities and municipalities, designed to support both election workers and voters.

Accessibility as a central concern

A key goal of the handout is to enable voters to independently find out about the accessibility of their polling stations. 10 checklists are provided that cover various aspects of accessibility. These checklists help to check the accessibility of the polling station, the accessibility of the polling station and the signage. An important component is also the provision of easy-to-understand pictograms to help mark the route to the polling station.

The Federal Agency has designed the pictograms so that they can be used and downloaded without a license. In addition, information on the handout is also available in plain language, further improving the accessibility of the information. Dr. Petra Zadel-Sodtke from the Federal Office explains that the handout is an effective tool for everyone involved in the electoral process to ensure accessibility. This ensures that all citizens can take part in the elections on September 20, 2026, regardless of physical limitations.

For further information on the handout and the accessibility of elections, the following links are relevant: Berlin.de reports that ..., Federal Office for Accessibility provides information to and expertise on Accessibility.