In Starnberg, Germany, Holger Albertzarth, head of the municipal department, announced a last-minute decision to reprint ballots for the upcoming local council election set for March 8. This action was taken out of concern that the varying sizes of candidate boxes on the ballots could lead to allegations of manipulation and could jeopardize the integrity of the election results. To prevent any contestation of the results, officials decided to print 112,500 new ballots at short notice.

The issue became evident when the freshly printed ballots were reviewed; one candidate's box, belonging to the Free Voters party, was significantly larger than those for the other candidates from the CSU, Greens, FDP, and AfD, sparking concerns over fairness. This discrepancy prompted the need for immediate action to ensure that all candidates were treated equally and that the election could proceed without the threat of legal challenges.

The reprinting of the ballots signifies not only a logistical challenge but also highlights the importance of maintaining electoral integrity. The Starnberg district officials are keen to ensure that the election is conducted fairly under conditions that prevent any future disputes or claims of unfairness, thus reinforcing the democratic process and promoting public confidence in the election outcomes.