German Election Reform Blocks 23 District Winners from Bundestag Seats

A new electoral law eliminates overhang mandates, leaving some constituencies without representation in parliament.

Under Germany's reformed electoral law, 23 candidates who won their districts will not take seats in the Bundestag due to a lack of proportional party list votes (Zweitstimmendeckung).
The reform, introduced by the governing coalition, aims to prevent the Bundestag from expanding through overhang and compensatory mandates.
Critics, including affected candidates, argue the changes undermine local representation, leaving some districts without any parliamentary representation.
Election law expert Robert Vehrkamp suggests adjusting the criteria for determining district winners to ensure representation while maintaining proportionality.
The reform has sparked calls for further changes, with suggestions including reducing the total number of districts to balance representation and seat allocation.