Info Session: Berlin State Election September 2026
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Julie Johnson Kidd Hall Cafe (W15)
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm CET/GMT+1
Walking around Berlin recently, you likely noticed the election posters of various political parties. You may or may not know that they are campaigning for the election for the 20th Berlin House of Representatives and the Borough Assemblies, which will take place on September 20, 2026. The Civic Engagement team invites you to an info session to learn what is at stake during this election, the political and societal context, and what the implications of election results may be. We also discuss the election in the context of other German state elections this month: The state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will hold their local election on the same day as Berlin. On September 6, far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) doubled its share of the vote in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, with results just shy of an absolute majority and the highest vote share for the far-right in Germany since 1945. What does this mean for Germany as an immigration country? What are the implications of these election results beyond German borders?12:30 pm – 1:30 pm CET/GMT+1
As our campus prepares to host a polling station, we invite everyone to discuss hopes and strategies for civic engagement and an open society in Berlin. We are joined by Reinhard Fischer from the Berlin Centre for Civic Education, who will provide a general overview over the elections, and Pia Voltz (Volt), who will discuss the big issues being debated in this year's election campaign, how worried we should be about the rise of the far right, and what life is like on the campaign trail.
Reinhard Fischer from Berliner Landeszentrale für politische Bildung (Berlin Centre for Civic Education) will visit campus to offer an overview of the election. Fischer works for the Berliner Landeszentrale für Politische Bildung (Berlin Centre for Civic Education). It is a state non-partisan educational institution that offers educational events and seminars on promoting democracy, political participation, and education to all Berliners and encourages active contributions to democratic decision-making processes according to people's own interests and abilities.
Pia Voltz
As lead candidate (Spitzenkandidatin) for Volt Berlin and elected member of Berlin District Council, Pia Voltz works at the intersection of entrepreneurship and policy. Her political priorities are climate action, sustainable food systems & animal welfare, tech for good & responsible innovation/AI, and a strong economy as the foundation of a strong welfare state. She believes real transformation happens when markets, technology, and policy move in the same direction.
For more information, e-mail [email protected].
Time: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm CET/GMT+1
Location: Julie Johnson Kidd Hall Cafe (W15)
Save this Event: