Bavarian mayor admits tampering with postal ballots in election scandal
A mayor in Bavaria is under investigation for tampering with postal ballots during local elections. Wolfgang Seifert, the CSU politician leading Wülfershausen an der Saale, admitted altering voting documents in multiple races. Prosecutors are now examining the case, which has raised concerns about electoral integrity in the region.
The allegations centre on the 8 March municipal elections in Lower Franconia. Seifert is accused of opening postal voting envelopes, changing ballots, and resealing them with new ones. Authorities believe the manipulation affected races for the town council, mayoral office, and district council.
Police have since searched several properties linked to the case and confiscated relevant documents. Despite the irregularities, Seifert retained his position after the vote, securing 472 valid votes against 449 for his opponents. Seifert claimed his actions were meant to boost his wife's campaign for the town council and possibly gain extra votes for himself. If found guilty, he could face a prison sentence of up to five years.
The investigation remains ongoing, with no prior documented cases of similar election fraud by sitting mayors or councillors in Germany over the past five years. The outcome will determine whether Seifert's admission leads to legal consequences or further scrutiny of local voting processes.
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