die  Wahlbeteiligung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈvaːlbəˌtaɪ̯lɪʊŋ/

🗳️ What exactly is 'die Wahlbeteiligung'?

The German noun die Wahlbeteiligung refers to the voter turnout. It signifies the percentage of eligible voters who actually cast their ballot in a specific election. It serves as a key indicator of political interest and the legitimacy of an election or vote.

The word is always feminine: die Wahlbeteiligung. There are no other articles associated with this noun.

• Example: Eine hohe Wahlbeteiligung stärkt die Demokratie. (A high voter turnout strengthens democracy.)

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: Die Wahlbeteiligung

The noun 'Wahlbeteiligung' is feminine. It is mostly used in the singular. The plural 'die Wahlbeteiligungen' is rare but can be used to compare turnout rates across different elections or regions.

Example Sentences

1. Die Wahlbeteiligung bei der letzten Bundestagswahl war erfreulich hoch.
   (The voter turnout at the last federal election was pleasingly high.)
2. Man diskutiert Maßnahmen zur Steigerung der Wahlbeteiligung.
   (Measures to increase voter turnout are being discussed.)
3. Der Bericht analysiert die unterschiedlichen Wahlbeteiligungen in den Bundesländern.
   (The report analyzes the different voter turnouts in the federal states.)
4. Eine niedrige Wahlbeteiligung kann die Legitimität des Ergebnisses schwächen.
   (Low voter turnout can weaken the legitimacy of the result.)

🌐 How is 'Wahlbeteiligung' used?

The term Wahlbeteiligung is primarily used in political and social science contexts.

• Political Reporting: Reporting the Wahlbeteiligung is standard practice in news and analysis concerning elections.
• Statistics: It's a crucial statistical measure for gauging political participation.
• Discussions about Democracy: High or low Wahlbeteiligung (hohe/niedrige Wahlbeteiligung) is often discussed in relation to the health of a democracy.
• Comparisons: Voter turnout is compared across different elections, regions, or demographic groups.

Important: Don't confuse it with 'Wahlergebnis' (election result) or 'Stimmabgabe' (the act of voting itself).

🧠 Mnemonics and Learning Aids

Article Mnemonic (die): Think of 'die Beteiligung' (the participation). Words ending in "-ung" in German are almost always feminine (die). Imagine die large crowd (Beteiligung) of people going to vote.

Meaning Mnemonic: The word is composed of Wahl (election) + Beteiligung (participation). So, it literally means participation in the election.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Potential for Confusion:

• Wahlergebnis: Refers to the election result (who won), not the participation rate.
• Wahlberechtigte: The eligible voters, not the percentage who actually vote.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum gehen Skelette nicht zur Wahl?
Weil sie niemanden (no body) haben, für den sie stimmen können! 😄

(Why don't skeletons go to vote? Because they have no body to vote for! 😄 And their Wahlbeteiligung is therefore always zero.)

✍️ Poem about Voter Turnout

Die Urne ruft, die Pflicht ist klar,
komm, wähle, sei für die Demokratie da!
Die Wahlbeteiligung, hoch und rein,
soll unser starkes Zeichen sein.
Jede Stimme zählt, ob groß, ob klein,
lass uns gemeinsam mündig sein!

(The ballot box calls, the duty is clear,
come, vote, be there for democracy!
The voter turnout, high and pure,
shall be our strong signal sure.
Every vote counts, big or small,
let us be responsible, one and all!)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich messe in Prozent, wie viele kamen,
um bei der Wahl zu nennen ihre Namen.
Bin ich hoch, ist die Freude groß,
bin ich niedrig, fragt man: "Was ist bloß los?"

Wer bin ich?

(I measure in percent how many came,
to cast their votes in the election game.
If I am high, the joy is great,
if I am low, they question fate.

What am I?)

Solution: die Wahlbeteiligung

ℹ️ Further Information

Word Composition:

The word "Wahlbeteiligung" is a compound noun, formed from:

• Die Wahl: The election or choice.
• Die Beteiligung: The participation or involvement.

Importance in Democracy: A high Wahlbeteiligung is often seen as a sign of a vibrant and functioning democracy, as it indicates that many citizens are exercising their right to participate in governance.