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Thursday, 22 October 2026

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High voter turnout in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt

The German state of Saxony-Anhalt holds elections with high turnout, where the AfD may secure an absolute majority.

Archive photo: High voter turnout in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt
Archive photoPhoto: Sandro Halank , Wikimedia Commons · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Polling stations in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt opened at 8 a.m. on Sunday for the state elections. A remarkable turnout has been recorded, surpassing that of the previous election in 2021.

According to official figures from the electoral commission, by noon, 34.7 percent of eligible voters had cast their votes. In comparison, five years ago, this percentage at the same time was 22.4 percent.

Later in the day, at 2 p.m., the electoral commission reported that turnout had further increased to 54.4 percent. This was significantly higher than the 27.1 percent at the same time in 2017.

Archive photo: High voter turnout in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt
Archive photoPhoto: ernohannink · Flickr · BY-SA

Polls indicate that the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) may achieve an absolute majority. This would be a historic occasion for the party, as it has never happened before.

An AfD candidate received loud cheers when casting their vote, highlighting the support for the party among voters. Reactions among the electorate suggest a wide range of opinions on the candidates and parties participating in the elections.

The results of the elections are being closely monitored, particularly given the high turnout and potential shifts in the political landscape in Saxony-Anhalt.