die  Stichwahl

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʃtɪçˌvaːl/

🗳️ What does "die Stichwahl" mean?

Die Stichwahl (feminine noun) refers to a second ballot or run-off election. It becomes necessary when no candidate or option achieves the required absolute majority (absolute Mehrheit > 50%) in the first round of voting (erster Wahlgang).

Typically, the two candidates or options with the most votes from the first round compete against each other again in the Stichwahl.

The term is primarily used in the context of political elections (e.g., presidential, mayoral elections) but can also occur in other voting procedures where a clear majority is needed.

🚨 Important: The word only has one article: die.

🧐 Grammar: Declension of "die Stichwahl"

The noun "Stichwahl" is feminine. Here is its declension:

Example Sentences:

1. Da kein Kandidat die absolute Mehrheit erreichte, kommt es zu einer Stichwahl.
   (Since no candidate reached the absolute majority, there will be a run-off election.)
2. Der Termin für die Stichwahl wurde auf nächsten Sonntag festgelegt.
   (The date for the run-off election was set for next Sunday.)
3. In der Stichwahl treten nur noch die beiden stärksten Bewerber an.
   (In the run-off election, only the two strongest candidates compete.)
4. Die Bürger bereiten sich auf die Stichwahl vor.
   (The citizens are preparing for the run-off election.)

💡 How to use "die Stichwahl"?

The term die Stichwahl is almost exclusively used in political or organizational contexts when a decision needs to be made by vote, and the first round did not yield a clear result (usually an absolute majority).

• Typical Contexts: Elections (president, mayor, parliament under certain systems), votes in clubs or committees.
• Distinction: A Stichwahl differs from the erster Wahlgang (first ballot) or Hauptwahl (main election), where often more than two candidates run.
• Common Phrases: "in die Stichwahl kommen" (to get into the run-off), "eine Stichwahl abhalten" (to hold a run-off), "sich in der Stichwahl befinden" (to be in the run-off), "die Stichwahl gewinnen/verlieren" (to win/lose the run-off).

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Stichwahl"

1. Article Aid: Think of the election - in German, 'Wahl' (election) is feminine (die Wahl). Since Stichwahl ends in 'Wahl', it keeps the feminine article: die Stichwahl.
2. Meaning Aid: Imagine the first vote is a *tie* or *stuck*. You need a second vote to make the final *stitch* or decision - the Stichwahl (run-off).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

😄 A little Election Joke

Deutsch: Frage: Warum gehen Ameisen nie zur Stichwahl? Antwort: Weil sie schon im ersten Wahlgang immer fleißig genug sind, um sich zu einigen!

English: Question: Why do ants never go to a run-off election (Stichwahl)? Answer: Because they are always diligent enough in the first round to come to an agreement!

📜 Poem about the Stichwahl

Deutsch:
Die erste Runde, knapp und heiß,
Kein Sieger klar, so will's der Kreis.
Die Spannung steigt, es ist noch offen,
Auf wen soll man nun hoffen?

Zwei stehen nur noch auf dem Plan,
Die Stichwahl fängt von vorne an.
Ein letzter Gang zur Urne nun,
Wer wird das Rennen machen? Wer wird ruh'n?

English Translation:
The first round, close and hot,
No winner clear, that's the plot.
The tension rises, still undecided,
In whom should hope be confided?

Just two remain upon the slate,
The run-off starts, deciding fate.
One final trip now to the poll,
Who'll win the race? Who'll reach the goal?

❓ Riddle

Deutsch:
Ich komme oft, wenn keiner siegt,
und nur ein Duo übrig liegt.
Ein zweites Mal wird dann gezählt,
bis endlich der Gewinner feststeht.

Was bin ich?

English:
I often come when no one wins the day,
And just a duo is left in the fray.
A second time the votes are then assessed,
Until the final winner stands confessed.

What am I?

Lösung/Solution: die Stichwahl (the run-off election)

🧩 Word Details & Trivia

Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):

The word "Stichwahl" is a compound noun, made up of:

• der Stich: Here in the sense of decision or casting vote, similar to 'taking a trick' in card games (einen Stich machen) or drawing lots (Stichwahl used to be a synonym for decision by lot).
• die Wahl: Meaning election or vote.

Trivia: Run-off elections (Stichwahlen) are common in many countries for presidential or mayoral elections, for example, in France and many German federal states.