Cologne in a state of madness: Who will be the new mayor? Runoff election on Sunday!

Cologne in a state of madness: Who will be the new mayor? Runoff election on Sunday!

Things will get exciting in Cologne on Sunday, September 28, 2025, as the city goes into the runoff election for the post of mayor. After the main election two weeks ago, the two candidates have now been determined: Berivan Aymaz from the Greens and Torsten Burmester from the SPD. Who will lead the town hall in the future? The voting documents are already known and the polling stations are also opening their doors.

Voters can cast their votes on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Polling station information is available online and a valid voter notification is required, although a valid ID is also sufficient to vote. Anyone who cannot go to the polling station in person has the option of voting by post. However, this requires a new application to the responsible municipality, unless you have already applied for postal voting documents for the main election. A big advantage for those who decide at short notice: You can still apply for a postal vote until Friday and do it directly on site at the election office.

The most important thing to choose from

• Die Wahllokale sind am 28.09.2025 von 8 bis 18 Uhr geöffnet.
• Die Stichwahl findet nur zwischen den zwei Kandidaten der Hauptwahl statt.
• Ergebnisse werden nach 18 Uhr vorgestellt, eine Wahlsondersendung läuft auf rkö.de.
• Kampflos wird es diesmal nicht zugehen – sowohl Aymaz als auch Burmester haben sich gut im Rennen plaziert.

Particular attention is paid to the counting of votes, which begins after 6 p.m. The first results can be expected between 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. In contrast to the federal elections, the results are published here without projections, but rather on a district-by-vote basis.

Runoff election and its rules

The runoff election in Cologne takes place two weeks after the main election - a common procedure in Germany to pit the two candidates with the most votes against each other. Loud WDR Anyone who became eligible to vote after September 14th is not allowed to take part. This ensures that the electorate is stable and that votes are cast by those who also took part in the main election.

The city of Cologne is not alone here; Local elections, such as those held throughout Germany, are subject to extensive regulations. The Federal Agency for Civic Education highlights that they can take different forms, with direct election of mayors being the most common. The electoral laws vary from state to state and therefore offer an exciting field for voters and parties.

How the people of Cologne will decide in this crucial election remains to be seen. A good knack for making the right decisions will be required. All Cologne residents are therefore cordially invited to cast their vote and take an active part in the city's political events.