Election held on the day of a municipal candidate's demise in Ohligs: re-vote ensues
In the city of Solingen, a unique municipal election procedure is unfolding. On July 15, the election committee officially approved the election proposals, and shortly after, it was announced that Marius Mix, the direct candidate for the voter community "Solinger:innen. Gestalten. Zukunft. e.V. i.Gr." in the electoral district Rathaus Ohligs, had passed away.
The voter community expressed deep regret at the sudden loss of their member. As a result, a by-election will be held on the same day, September 14, parallel to the regular municipal election, in the district where Mix was a candidate.
Marius Mix, born in 1988, was also ranked 7th on the city council reserve list and 2nd on the list for the district council Ohligs/Aufderhöhe/Merscheid. He was an active member of the team of the mayoral candidate Jan Höttges. Mix was firmly anchored in the political work of the voter community.
The city aims to ensure a smooth running of the election, despite the organizational challenges. This by-election is a rare, but legally defined special case in North Rhine-Westphalian municipal politics. Elections typically happen separately, but holding both elections on the same day ensures that the democratic process continues without undue delay and avoids additional electoral costs and logistical challenges.
Voters will receive separate ballots or be instructed on how to vote accordingly to account for both the regular and the by-election contests. The election in municipal election district 26 (polling districts 261-263, school building Querstraße) has been cancelled. The district government of Düsseldorf has scheduled the by-election for September 14, 2025.
The election committee will decide on new election proposals for the by-election on July 31. The city spokeswoman, Franziska Bravo Roger, emphasized that the election will take place as announced on September 14.
The voter community, "Solinger:innen. Gestalten. Zukunft. e.V. i.Gr.", has announced they will nominate a new candidate promptly. The municipal election in the affected district, Ohligs/Aufderhöhe/Merscheid, will take place as planned on September 14.
[1] This approach aligns with general German municipal election law practices, where a by-election (Nachwahl) is called if a candidate passes away before the election, and it may be scheduled concurrently with the general election to maintain efficiency and electoral clarity. For more detailed information, official Solingen electoral office publications or the municipal election law (Kommunalwahlgesetz NRW) would provide the precise legal framework for this process.
- The by-election in the district Ohligs/Aufderhöhe/Merscheid, arising from Marius Mix's sudden demise, is a special case in the city's policy-and-legislation, being a result of German municipal election law practices that call for a by-election if a candidate passes away before the election.
- The municipal election law (Kommunalwahlgesetz NRW) and the official Solingen electoral office publications provide a detailed legal framework for the concurrent holding of a by-election and the regular municipal election, a strategy employed to maintain efficiency and electoral clarity in such situations.
