Local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia: High willingness to vote despite skepticism!

Local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia: High willingness to vote despite skepticism!

On September 14, 2025, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) will be the venue for local elections, and the anticipation is palpable. A total of 13.7 million eligible voters in Germany's most populous federal state are called upon to cast their votes. The spectrum ranges from the election of city and local councils to the district councils through to the (chief) mayors and district administrators. Infratest dimap reports that 67 percent of those eligible to vote are interested in the elections - with 22 percent saying they are very interested. What is particularly noticeable is that interest is increasing among older voters, which indicates a clear trend: 71 percent of those over 60 are committed.

In the run-up to the local elections, citizens' general satisfaction with living conditions in North Rhine-Westphalia will also be examined. An encouraging 77 percent of those surveyed said they were satisfied or even very satisfied, while only 22 percent gave a negative assessment. Public safety in particular received positive votes (60:39 percent). However, the picture is mixed when it comes to economic aspects, transport facilities and educational institutions. Skepticism about the integration of foreigners is also noticeable, with a negative rating of 38 to 50 percent.

Focus on voter turnout

Voter turnout has changed in recent years. In the 2020 local elections this was 51.9 percent. But other elections also show interesting trends: according to Statista, there was a record turnout of 82.5 percent in the 2025 federal election, the highest since reunification. Demographic change is also contributing to the fact that the proportion of older voters is constantly increasing. The highest voter turnout was recorded by people aged 50 to 69 at around 85.5 percent. Younger voters, especially 16 to 17 year olds, are allowed to take part in local elections for the first time this time, which could stimulate interest among younger people ZDF today.

The upcoming local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia will be seen as the third and last major election of 2025. While the CDU dominated in the last elections, this could change. Political scientist Stefan Marschall highlights that dissatisfaction with the federal government could also influence local elections. Issues such as affordable housing and infrastructure are at the top of voters' agendas, especially in the Ruhr region, where the CDU is finding increasing support.

Outlook and expectations

The AfD is expected to increase its results from previous elections, which could make for exciting election evenings. A head-to-head race between the SPD and AfD is expected, especially in Gelsenkirchen. In 55 of 427 municipalities, only one candidate is running for mayor. This shows that in some regions there is a lack of serious alternatives and the exchange between voters and politicians may not be fully present.

Overall, it is expected that the local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia on September 14, 2025 will shape the political landscape and possibly also represent an indicator of the political mood nationwide. Citizens are called upon to actively shape their fate - because every vote counts.