2026 state election: Every vote counts in order to strengthen democracy and academic freedom
Freiburg, 25/02/2026
On the occasion of the state elections in Baden-Württemberg on 8 March 2026, Rector Prof. Dr Kerstin Krieglstein is calling on everyone to vote.
“Democracy and academic freedom are under increasing pressure worldwide and also in Germany . In order to strengthen both, it is more important than ever to vote,” says Prof. Dr Kerstin Krieglstein, Rector of the University of Freiburg, with a view to the state elections in Baden-Württemberg. “Participation in free elections is not only a fundamental right, it is the foundation of every vibrant democracy and thus also of free science. I therefore encourage you to exercise your right to vote – every vote counts!”
“Democratic societies depend on verifiable scientific findings for their open debates and political decisions. And only in freedom can science independently obtain, test and further develop these findings,” says Krieglstein. “Accordingly, universities bear a great responsibility in a democracy, and we want to live up to this responsibility in the best possible way by promoting cutting-edge research and innovative teaching, bringing knowledge into society, and discussing and developing it together with society.”
Help with voting decisions
The University of Freiburg also offers specific guidance on the state elections in Baden-Württemberg via the WahlSwiper app. It includes 37 questions on state political issues such as education, internal security, migration, energy, finance, transport and democracy. Users’ answers are compared with the parties’ election manifestos, which can make it easier to decide how to vote. The project is scientifically led by Prof. Dr Uwe Wagschal from the Department of Political Science at the University of Freiburg and is supported by the non-profit association VoteSwiper. Anyone wishing to find out more about the parties’ positions on higher education policy can find an overview on the website of the State Rectors’ Conference.