The Federal Republic of Germany celebrates 60 years of democracy this year. Although I'm there rather seldomly, I'm happy to follow my responsibilites as a German citizen at the ´super election year 2009'. Last time I found myself at the train to Berlin from where a plane was to take me abroad for the first time, when I ticked my boxes for the parliamentary elections. Today I found a large brown envelope in my post box and inside a lot of little colourful ones that again contained metre-long voting papers as well as instructions how to use them. It´s about the European parliamentary elections and the local elections and the whole super election package contains four envelopes in various colours and sizes and a phenomenal 40 inches long ballot paper as well as one in A2 and a little A4 one. I can cast my votes in an elaborate box ticking system in various different ways and then put envelopes into envelopes into envelopes. Particularly interesting though is the choice of parties for the European Parliament. It contains beside green, grey and purple parties also less known ones such as the Animal Protection Party, the Bavarian Party and even the Pirate Party of Germany. I wonder if the Anarchistic Pogo Party, that I remember from last time, was too drunk or hung over to participate this time.
OK, so I'm going to tick my boxes now, after all it doesn't happen very often that citizens are asked for their opinon. I can be glad that I'm not asked for my vote every week like in Switzerland. Perhaps I should vote blindfolded to be perfectly fair or maybe I ask the Wahl-o-Mat, a web application that compares my opinion on certain key issues with the policy of the parties. Oh before I forget: Happy birthday, democracy.
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