AfD's vote share dips in Rhineland-Palatinate as mail-in ballots shift results

A late-night shift in numbers left AfD supporters questioning the process. But election authorities call it routine—mail-in ballots always tell a different story.

, and Administrator

2026 April 2 . 2:02 PM

1 min read

The image shows an old book with the words "Presidential Elections, 1844" printed on it. The book... — The image shows an old book with the words "Presidential Elections, 1844" printed on it. The book appears to be a list of presidential elections from 1844, with each state represented by a different color. The text is written in a bold font and is surrounded by a decorative border.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) saw its vote share dip slightly during Rhineland-Palatinate's state election as mail-in ballots were counted. Initial projections had placed the party at 20%, but the final tally settled at 19.5%. State officials have now clarified that this shift does not indicate fraud.

Election night began with exit polls suggesting AfD would secure around 20% of the vote. As counting progressed, however, the party's percentage fell when postal votes were added. These ballots, which made up 66% of the total in 2021 due to COVID-19, are expected to account for roughly 52% in 2026.

AfD supporters tend to vote in person rather than by mail. Voters who choose postal ballots often decide earlier and are less swayed by last-minute campaign events. The party's base has long expressed scepticism about mail-in voting and the broader electoral system. Rhineland-Palatinate's electoral authority confirmed that fluctuations in vote share are normal as results are finalised. Projections, they noted, are estimates that refine as more ballots are processed. Exit polls also reflect actual votes cast—not hypothetical preferences—adding to the accuracy of the process.

The final result places AfD at 19.5%, a slight decrease from early projections. Officials have dismissed claims of irregularities, attributing the change to the timing of mail-in votes. The election's outcome reflects standard counting procedures, with postal ballots playing a key role in the final tally.