Polling stations in Baden‑Württemberg opened at 8 a.m. for the state election. Approximately 7.7 million voters are expected to take part – the highest turnout ever in the state, including about 650,000 first‑time voters.
For the first time, all citizens aged 16 and over can vote, as the voting age was lowered by two years after the last election. Voters will elect at least 120 members of the Baden‑Württemberg state parliament for a five‑year term in 70 constituencies.
Opinion polls already suggest that the current coalition of the Greens and the CDU will continue, but they are split on who will become the prime minister. Incumbent Premier Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) declined to run again. Over most of the campaign the CDU, represented by leading candidate Manuel Hagel, trailed the Greens by a clear margin. More recently, the two parties have been almost tied, each polling around 28 percent in the latest ZDF poll, with the Greens aiming to put Cem Özdemir in charge.
The AfD, led by state chair Markus Frohnmaier, sits well behind at 18 percent. The SPD is expected to be just below 10 percent, while the FDP and the Left are projected to be just above the five‑percent threshold.
Polling stations close at 6 p.m., after which exit polls and statistical projections are expected to be released.