Notice of participation in the election to the German Bundestag
A party which has not been continuously represented in the German Bundestag or in a Land parliament since the last election to the relevant assembly by at least five deputies on the basis of nominations made by the party itself may only submit a nomination if it has given the Federal Returning Officer written notice of its intended participation in the election not later than 6 p.m. on the 97th day before the election and has been recognized as a political party by the Federal Electoral Committee not later than the 79th day before the election.
The notice must include the name of the party as laid down in the statutes and its short form if a short form is specified in the statutes. The written statutes and the written program of the party, as well as certification that the executive committee has been appointed in accordance with the statutes, shall be appended to the notice. The notice must bear the personal handwritten signature of at least three members of the national executive committee, including the chairman or his deputy, and be presented to the Federal Returning Officer in the original.
Evidence should be submitted together with the notice of participation which enables the Federal Electoral Committee to check the party status.
Such notice is not required for European elections.
Legal bases
Section 18 of the Federal Elections Act (BWG)
Section 33 of the Federal Electoral Regulations (BWO)
Last update: 1 October 2014