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Voters in Germany's northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania began casting their ballots at 8 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday (September 20).

Alongside elections in Berlin, capital and one of Germany's 16 federal states, the vote is being closely watched as a key test for Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his coalition of conservatives and Social Democrats.

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

1. VOTERS ARRIVING IN ELECTION HALL AND REGISTERING AT DESK

2. PERSON CASTING VOTE

3. WOMAN WALKING OUT OF ELECTION HALL

Fear for the future and the ongoing global crises were on top of voters' minds on Sunday (September 20) as they took to the polls in the state election of Germany's north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

One voter said that too much money was spend on armament and funds abroad.

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

4. PEOPLE ENTERING POLLING STATION

5. SIGN READING: (German) "POLLING STATION 30"

6. (SOUNDBITE) (German) VOTER (NO NAME GIVEN), SAYING:

"We need our funds for our state—for the children, for the pensioners, for everything else. Because the rest of it, it is in my eyes ... all the armament, why do we funnel millions and billions abroad while getting nothing out of it ourselves? We have plenty of children and old people right here who need support, and that is why we can only vote for one thing, no way around it."

The two top candidates of the governing Social-Democratic Party (SPD) and of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) cast their votes on Sunday (September 20) in the state-election of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

The current Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state premier and SPD top Candidate, Manuela Schwesig, said she experienced a great deal of support during her election campaign after voting. AfD candidate Leif-Erik Holm said he was hoping for a high voter turnout.

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

7. VARIOUS OF MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA STATE PREMIER AND SPD'S TOP CANDIDATE, MANUELA SCHWESIG, VOTING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (German) MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA STATE PREMIER AND SPD'S TOP CANDIDATE, MANUELA SCHWESIG, SAYING:

"I have experienced a great deal of support during this election campaign—right up to this morning, right up here at the polling station. Many people have approached me to say they hope for a positive outcome and to express their support - well beyond the traditional SPD voter base. For that, I can only offer my heartfelt thanks. These have been intense weeks in which the stakes today have become clear. And today, the decision rests with the citizens. That is why I hope everyone goes to the polls and casts their vote for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and that it will be a good decision for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania."

9. VARIOUS OF AFD MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA CANDIDATE, LEIF-ERIK HOLM, VOTING

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.

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

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

11. EVERS CASTING VOTE

12. AFD TOP CANDIDATE KRISTIN BRINKER AT POLLING STATION

13. (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."

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) took first place in state elections in northeastern Germany on Sunday (September 20), exit polls showed, boosting the far-right party’s national momentum as conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz fights for political survival.

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

14. BACKS OF AFD STATE PREMIER CANDIDATE LEIF-ERIK HOLM AND AFD CO LEADER TINO CHRUPALLA AS THEY WATCH EXIT POLLS WITH AFD SUPPORTERS / AFD SUPPORTERS CHEERING AS THEY NAMED STRONGEST IN STATE IN EARLY EXIT POLLS / CHRUPALLA AND HOLM HUGGING PEOPLE

15. (SOUNDBITE) (German) AFD STATE PREMIER CANDIDATE LEIF-ERIK HOLM, SAYING:

"That people want change, that, too, is very clear from the figures. We’re in the lead. And, of course, we want to be in the lead at the end of the evening as well. We want to become the strongest force. We have been entrusted with governing Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania."

16. SPD SUPPORTERS AT TABLE LISTENING TO RESULTS

17. MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA STATE PREMIER AND SPD'S TOP PREMIER CANDIDATE MANUELA SCHWESIG GOING UP TO STAGE TO ADDRESS SUPPORTERS

18. (SOUNDBITE) (German) MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA STATE PREMIER AND SPD'S TOP CANDIDATE MANUELA SCHWESIG, SAYING:

"Right from the start, we believed it was possible to stand up to the AfD, which is very strong in eastern Germany and throughout the country. And that is exactly what we have done. Through our policies, our people, our clarity and our collective fight and so, to everyone who believed in this from the very start, who got involved, and to the candidates and their teams – a huge thank you."

19. SUPPORTERS CLAPPING

20. (SOUNDBITE) (German) SPD SUPPORTER MIMI JANSEN, SAYING:

"It’s quite shocking, really. I think it’s mainly because of what’s happened over the last few weeks with what Manuela Schwesig has done, the discussions that have taken place – and the hope that perhaps it might shake people up again. It’s certainly shocking. The tension hasn’t really gone away, even though we’d hoped it would."

21. (SOUNDBITE) (German) SPD SUPPORTER LINA WIRTH, SAYING:

"Well, I think … the latest polls, or at least the most recent one, had given us a renewed sense of hope, which I think has now simply faded a bit. And that’s a bitter pill to swallow."

In the state election in the German capital Berlin that took place on Sunday, the far-left Linke party was on 24.5%, while Merz’s conservatives were on 20%.

The AfD also gained in strength in the liberal city, hitting 16%.

It is the first time the Linke has topped polls in the state, where it wants to nationalise housing from corporate landlords and cap rents. It would need partners to take control of the mayor's office in the German capital for the first time since reunification in 1990.

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

22. SUPPORTERS OF THE BERLIN DIE LINKE PARTY INCLUDING, LEAD CANDIDATE FOR STATE ELECTIONS ELIF ERALP REACTING TO RESULTS WITH CHEER / ERALP AND SUPPORTERS HUGGING AND JUMPING UP AND DOWN

23. ERALP COMING ON STAGE TO CONFETTI AND CHEERING

24. (SOUNDBITE) (German) DIE LINKE LEAD CANDIDATE FOR STATE ELECTIONS ELIF ERALP, SAYING:

"In our city, love and justice won over hate and today we showed that together and sent this signal out into the world."

25. SUPPORTERS HOLDING SIGNS, READING: (German) Stop rent rip-offs

26. (SOUNDBITE) (German) DIE LINKE LEAD CANDIDATE FOR STATE ELECTIONS ELIF ERALP, SAYING:

"Berlin's shared vision won today. Our shared vision of an affordable Berlin for all people regardless of where they are from, regardless of what they believe, regardless of who they love and regardless of what the earn."

27. SCREENS AT THE CDU PARTY LOCATION SHOWING RESULTS

28. CDU SUPPORTERS LOOKING SHOCKED LISTENING TO RESULTS FROM MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA WHERE THE PARTY DID BADLY

29. (SOUNDBITE) (German) BERLIN CDU CANDIDATE, STEFAN EVERS, SAYING:

"These figures show us once again that radical populist promises of salvation are gaining traction. We can see how difficult it is to win people over whilst in government and from the centre of society. And that, of course, is also a commission and a reminder for us. And we should face up to this with complete openness, honesty and humility."

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) took first place in state elections in northeastern Germany on Sunday, exit polls showed, delivering a "disaster" for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who vowed to push ahead with his reform agenda.

Merz on Sunday (September 20) called for the implementation of planned federal reforms following state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, emphasizing his commitment to pushing the country forward.

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

30. GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ GOING TO LECTERN

31. (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, FRIEDRICH MERZ, SAYING:

"And today we witnessed two elections with very different outcomes. We cannot sugar coat the result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania; it is a disaster. The CDU fought hard, but in the end it was the CDU that got crushed in the polarisation between the SPD and the AfD."

32. CAMERAS FILMING MERZ

33. (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, FRIEDRICH MERZ, SAYING:

"We are experiencing a state that has become too complicated. Our economy is in the midst of a profound transformation. And the tone of interaction in our society has become harsher and less conciliatory. Finally, trust in our country's institutions is declining and is being actively undermined by radical parties on the left and the right."

34. CAMERA FILMING MERZ

35. MERZ WALKING AWAY