City Council (Stadtverordnetenversammlung)

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 The Stadtverordnetenversammlung:

• Debates and passes municipal decisions
   
• Approves the city budget
   
• Sets priorities for city development
   
• Supervises the Magistrat (city executive)
   
• Works with advisory councils, including the KAV, to include diverse perspectives
   

Decisions made here directly affect daily life in Frankfurt — from schools and public transport to housing policies and community services.

• Elections are held every five years as part of the municipal elections in Hessen. 
• Political parties and voter groups present candidate lists.
• Citizens vote to elect representatives.
• Seats are distributed according to the election results.
• Elected members form the Stadtverordnetenversammlung.
• The City Council works through:

                - Plenary sessions

                - Committees (e.g. social affairs, education, urban planning)

                - Cooperation with city administration and advisory councils (like KAV)

 You can vote if:

• You are 18 years or older
• You are registered as a resident in Frankfurt
• You are a German citizen, or
• You are a citizen of another EU member state
   

You cannot vote in the Stadtverordnetenversammlung elections if you are:

• A non-EU citizen without German citizenship
  (Non-EU citizens vote in the KAV elections instead)

• Eligible voters must be registered at their Frankfurt address
• Voter information is sent by post before the election
   

You can vote in two ways:

• In person at your assigned polling station on election day
• By postal vote (Briefwahl) if requested in advance
   

• Municipal elections in Hessen allow multiple votes (cumulative and split voting)
• Voters can:
   
  • Vote for a party list
  • Give multiple votes to individual candidates
  • Distribute votes across different lists (depending on rules)
     

Clear instructions are provided with the ballot paper.

• In-person: ballot is placed in the ballot box
• Postal: ballot must arrive before the official deadline

 Frankfurt’s democracy includes different paths for participation:

• German & EU citizens shape city policy through the Stadtverordnetenversammlung
• Non-German residents shape representation and advocacy through the KAV
   

Together, these structures ensure that all residents have a voice, even if they do not have German citizenship.