State elections in North Rhine-Westphalia

State elections in North Rhine-Westphalia take place every five years and are held in 128 constituencies. Every resident of NRW who has lived in the state for 16 days and is 18 years old may vote. At least 181 members of parliament sit in the state parliament. 128 of them are elected by direct mandate, the rest by second votes for the parties. In the last state election in 2017, the CDU prevailed with the most votes and formed a black-yellow government with the FDP under Minister President Armin Laschet (CDU). For the 2022 election, Hendrik Wüst (CDU), Thomas Kutschaty (SPD), Joachim Stamp (FDP), Markus Wagner (AfD) and Mona Neubau (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) are the parties' top candidates. The election for the 18th state parliament will take place on May 15, 2022. According to polls, the Greens in particular are expected to win many votes in this election.