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Lower Saxony Approves New Electoral Map, Expanding to 90 Constituencies

A court ruling that the 2022 layout violated equality rules compelled a redraw ahead of the 2027 state election.

Overview

  • The SPD–Green majority passed the plan, which will apply in 2027 and raises the number of constituencies from 87 to 90.
  • Three new districts were created—Rastede/Varel, Nordhorn, and Vechta-Süd—while more than half of existing boundaries were reshaped and none were abolished.
  • Some constituencies now cross county lines to balance populations, including Apensen being assigned to the Bremervörde district despite the distance.
  • Statistical projections indicate four constituencies—Gifhorn-Süd, Holzminden, Lüneburg, and Wilhelmshaven—are still likely to exceed the 15% deviation threshold by 2027, a margin the coalition says is limited.
  • CDU and AfD voted against the reform, warning of a larger Landtag and higher costs and alleging partisan advantage, while data show SPD-held districts are less altered than those of the CDU and Greens.