Election Sunday — March 15, 2026

Your City.
Your Voice.

223,000 people in Frankfurt can vote in the KAV election — the only democratic voice for residents without a German passport. This is your guide.

Days to Election

Lists Running

Your Votes

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01 Understanding

Frankfurt's Foreigners Advisory Council

26% of Frankfurt's residents are foreign nationals. Nearly a third of the city doesn't hold a German passport. The KAV — Kommunale Ausländer- und Ausländerinnenvertretung — is their elected political voice.

Founded in 1991, the KAV advises the city council on all matters affecting foreign residents. It sits at the intersection of city government and the international community — advocating for integration policy, fighting discrimination, and pushing for educational equity.

It's advisory, not legislative. But it's the only formal democratic participation available to non-EU citizens in Frankfurt.

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Who votes?

All residents with exclusively foreign citizenship, 18+, registered in Frankfurt for 6+ weeks. EU and non-EU citizens alike.

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What power does it have?

Advisory role anchored in Hessian municipal law. Can submit proposals, issue press statements, and advise the Stadtverordnetenversammlung.

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The turnout problem

Historically 5-8% participation. That's 200,000+ eligible voters largely absent. Your vote carries enormous weight.

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37 seats, 26 lists

From major parties (CDU, SPD, Grüne) to community associations representing specific nationalities and causes.

02 History

Three decades of political voice

1991

KAV Founded

First election with 19.7% turnout. Supported by Daniel Cohn-Bendit as "a step towards political equality."

1997

Peak Turnout

Highest participation rates recorded across Hessian cities. The KAV establishes itself as a model.

2005

27 Lists, 5.7%

Participation collapses. 140,000 eligible voters, fewer than 8,000 actually vote. The "zahnloser Tiger" critique grows.

2010

Slight Recovery

35 lists compete. Turnout rises to 7.6% but remains critically low.

2021

Combined Election

KAV election merged with Kommunalwahl for the first time. 47 lists, 713 candidates. Turnout benefits from combined ballot day.

2026

Your Election

26 lists, 411 candidates. CDU runs a KAV list for the first time ever. March 15 — polls open 8:00-18:00.

03 How to Vote

Practice your ballot

You have 37 votes. Give up to 3 per candidate. Mix across lists (panaschieren) or stack on favorites (kumulieren). Try it.

Kommunale Ausländer- und Ausländerinnenvertretung

Frankfurt am Main — March 15, 2026

votes remaining

Practice your ballot →

You don't have to use all 37 votes. You can give all votes to one list, spread them across many, or anything in between. The only rule: max 3 per candidate, max 37 total.

04 The Issues