Stephan Bröchler, Berlin’s State Election Officer, has warned about a growing delegitimization of elections. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, Bröchler expressed concern as both a State Election Officer and a political scientist, stating that they are experiencing an increasing erosion of faith in electoral processes. He cautioned that this trend is highly dangerous to the legitimacy of both the new parliament and the subsequent governing body.
He emphasized the importance of highlighting the seriousness and integrity of elections. Bröchler refuted claims of irregularities in mail-in voting, noting that there is no empirical evidence to support such assertions, particularly in elderly care facilities. He remarked that those who propagate such unfounded allegations risk undermining the credibility of the entire electoral system.
The State Election Officer also voiced concerns regarding false reporting. “We must recognize that disinformation-especially on social media-has reached a new dimension compared to previous years,” Bröchler stated. He confirmed that he is in ongoing dialogue with representatives from major social media platforms. Should disinformation campaigns arise before or shortly after the elections, he assured that prompt action will be taken in consultation with the platform operators.
The election for the Berlin House of Representatives is scheduled to take place in just over two weeks, running concurrently with the state election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Furthermore, a new state parliament will be elected this coming Sunday in Saxony-Anhalt.
