More election poster crimes in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt after the 2026 state elections

The police in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have registered more crimes related to the last state election than five years ago, when a new federal and state parliament was elected at the same time. By September 23rd - shortly after the state elections - the State Criminal Police Office said it had identified more than 490 corresponding crimes. In 2021 there were 277 crimes.

The majority of crimes and the increase can therefore be attributed to damage or theft of election posters. Not significantly more posters were the targets of registered crimes in 2026 than in 2021 (around 1,700 each).

However, according to the LKA, there were significantly more advertisements this year in which only a small number of attacked election posters or even just one were reported. “In 2021, however, there were fewer advertisements, with a higher number of attacked posters,” said the LKA.

Violent crimes are also recorded

In addition to damage to property (303), the LKA registered thefts (83) and the use of license plates of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations (29) in connection with the election. In addition, there were insults (21); Insult, slander and slander against political figures (15); threat (7); Sedition (6) and simple and grievous bodily harm (3 and 2).

Crimes related to AfD posters were clearly the most frequently reported, followed by SPD posters and those of the Left. The numbers can also be influenced by different reporting behavior. It is also difficult to compare different elections with each other, for example because of differences in campaign budgets and posters.

View to Saxony-Anhalt

In Saxony-Anhalt, where a new state parliament was elected two weeks before the northeast elections, the authorities are also recording more election-related crimes than in 2021. This indicates a change in the intensity of the election campaign and the political debate, explained the Interior Ministry in Magdeburg. By election day, the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) had recorded 747 crimes; in 2021 there were 531 crimes. Here too, the main issue was the damage or theft of election posters.