STORY: The top candidates of the conservative CDU and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) cast their vote on Sunday (September 20) in the state elections of the federal city state of Berlin, Germany's capital. The latest polls showed a neck-to-neck between the conservative party and the Left party, with the AfD coming in third.

The lead candidate of the CDU, Stefan Evers, said he felt at ease after voting.

"I finally got a good night's sleep, had breakfast with my husband, and we went for a walk. Now I’ve been to vote, and this evening I’m heading to the House of Representatives. We are eager to see the election results," said Evers.

The lead candidate of the AfD, Kristin Brinker, said she was optimistic about her party's success in the elections.

"We are noticing that we have truly become a mainstream party in Berlin as well—despite all the naysayers. The mood was really excellent, especially yesterday on the final day; I drove all across Berlin. So, I am very, very optimistic today," said Brinker.

Berlin is currently governed by a coalition of the conservative party and the Social-Democratic Party. The election could see the Left party come in first in elections for the first time in Berlin.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 20, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. POLLING STATION

2. SIGN (German) "POLLING STATION FOR THE VOTING DISTRICT NUMBER 424"

3. VARIOUS OF VOTERS IN POLLING STATION

4. VARIOUS OF VOTERS CASTING VOTE

5. SAMPLE VERSION OF BALLOT

6. VOTER CASTING VOTE

7. VOTERS QUEUING

BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 16, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

8. FLAGS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, GERMANY AND BERLIN

9. BERLIN FLAG

BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 20, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

10. ARRIVAL OF CDU TOP CANDIDATE, STEFAN EVERS, AT POLLING STATION

11. POLLING STATION

12. EVERS GOING TO VOTE

13. FLAGS OF EUROPEAN UNION, GERMANY AND BERLIN HANGING ON WALL

14. EVERS CASTING VOTE

15. (SOUNDBITE) (German) CDU TOP CANDIDATE, STEFAN EVERS, SAYING:

"I am at ease, and relaxed. I finally got a good night's sleep, had breakfast with my husband, and we went for a walk. Now I’ve been to vote, and this evening I’m heading to the House of Representatives. We are eager to see the election results."

16. EXTERIORS OF POLLING STATION

BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 16, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

17. TOURIST GROUP NEAR PARLIAMENT BUILDING

18. TOURIST GROUP IN FRONT OF REMAINING PIECE OF BERLIN WALL

19. SIGN READING PARLIAMENT OF BERLIN (German) "HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF BERLIN"

BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 20, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

20. VARIOUS OF AFD TOP CANDIDATE KRISTIN BRINKER AT POLLING STATION

21. VARIOUS OF BRINKER VOTING

22. BRINKER EXITING POLLING STATION AND STOPPING TO TALK TO PERSON

23. SIGN (German) "TO THE POLLING STATION"

24. (SOUNDBITE (German) AFD TOP CANDIDATE, KRISTIN BRINKER, SAYING:

"I am very optimistic. We are noticing that we have truly become a mainstream party in Berlin as well—despite all the naysayers. The mood was really excellent, especially yesterday on the final day; I drove all across Berlin. So, I am very, very optimistic today."

25. SIGNS LEADING TO POLLING STATIONS

26. (SOUNDBITE (German) AFD TOP CANDIDATE, KRISTIN BRINKER, SAYING:

"Let’s wait and see. Right now, there are strong arguments being made against us. But wherever we go, we keep getting stronger. And the less people want to talk to us, the stronger we become. From my perspective, that’s a strategy that won’t work. Sooner or later, we will either govern alone or be part of a coalition."

27. VARIOUS OF VOTER IN POLLING STATION

28. (SOUNDBITE) (German) VOTER (NO NAME GIVEN) SAYING:

"I think climate protection is one of the most important issues, and I don’t understand why so many parties don’t focus on it more."

29. (SOUNDBITE) (German) VOTER JOERN TAUBERT SAYING:

"Basically, it’s about voting democratically and voting against the right-wing. It is certainly important to send a signal against this shift to the right—which is a global problem—showing that things cannot go on like this, it has to be democratic."

BERLIN, GERMANY (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 15, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

30. VARIOUS OF BERLIN CITY HALL "ROTES RATHAUS"