German island uses special voting booths: Beach chairs

People casting their vote in the election for the German parliament on the East Frisian island of Norderney on Sunday may find a few grains of sand from the North Sea beach in their unusual voting booths: white and blue beach chairs.

"I think many islanders don't know any normal voting booths because they always vote here on Norderney in beach chairs," the island's mayor, Frank Ulrichs, told dpa.

He said the beach chairs - large wicker two-seaters with a canopy to protect from the wind - are always available, portable and, crucial for marking a secret ballot, not see-through.

Therefore, the island, which has around 6,000 inhabitants, forgoes conventional voting booths, whether for the German parliament, or Bundestag, the European Parliament or local elections.

"We've always done it this way. I can't even remember it being any different," said Ulrichs.

For voting, a board is inserted into the beach furniture, which is typically used for sitting and lounging, on which the ballot paper can then be marked. This allows for comfortable voting in a standing position, said the town hall chief. Anything else, he said, would be impractical.

Only for the severely disabled, such as wheelchair users who are unable to use a beach chair, is a separate table with a privacy screen set up by the local council.