Bodensee (electoral district)

The Bodensee electoral district (German: Wahlkreis Bodensee) is an electoral district (German: Wahlkreis) used for the election of members to the German Bundestag, the federal parliament of Germany. It is located in Baden-Württemberg.

Overview

The district is currently designated as electoral district number 293. It covers the Bodenseekreis district and parts of the Landkreis Ravensburg district, specifically the municipalities of Achberg, Amtzell, Baienfurt, Baindt, Berg, Bergatreute, Bodnegg, Grünkraut, Horgenzell, Ravensburg, Schlier, Waldburg, Weingarten, and Wolfegg.

History

The Bodensee electoral district has existed since the first federal election in 1949. It has undergone some boundary changes over time, primarily to account for population shifts and administrative reforms. Before 1980, it was known as Konstanz. The general geographic area covered by the district has remained consistent, focusing on the Lake Constance (Bodensee) region.

Electoral System

Germany uses a mixed-member proportional representation system. Voters cast two votes: a first vote for a direct candidate representing their electoral district and a second vote for a party list in their state. The candidate who wins the most first votes in the Bodensee electoral district is directly elected to the Bundestag. The second votes are then used to allocate seats proportionally to the parties, ensuring overall proportionality in the Bundestag.

Representation

The directly elected member for the Bodensee electoral district represents the interests of the district's constituents in the Bundestag. The party affiliation of the directly elected member can vary from election to election, reflecting the political preferences of the local electorate. The overall political composition of the Bundestag is influenced by the national party list results.