The German city of Duisburg has launched an unusual initiative to encourage voter participation by offering free beer to those who pick up their postal voting documents on February 15. The beer will be available in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions.
“Sometimes you have to take unconventional approaches. With this campaign, we want to tackle the issue of low voter turnout in Duisburg,” said Martin Murrack, the city manager and official responsible for organizing the election.
Voters are invited to visit the city administration office between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM to ask questions and, if necessary, collect their postal voting documents. However, to enjoy the free beer, there’s a catch: only those who cast their vote on the spot will receive a voucher that can be redeemed for a drink at a beer truck from the local brewery.
“What matters is that the more people vote, the better,” Murrack emphasized.
Members of the Main Committee of the Duisburg Carnival will distribute the vouchers.
This isn’t the first time the city has used free beer to motivate voters. During the European elections in spring 2024, a similar campaign was held. However, there was a notable difference: only non-alcoholic beer was offered at that time.
Despite the effort, WDR later reported that interest in the initiative was low, with only a small number of citizens taking up the offer. Voter turnout in the city remained relatively modest, though it still surpassed previous levels—53.6% in 2024 compared to 50.1% in the 2019 European elections.
The city hopes this year’s campaign, with the addition of alcoholic beer as an option, will attract more voters to participate in the electoral process.
