u/Big-Village-9694

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I'm new to Berlin, here with a freelancer visa. Naturally I want to be involved in the running of my city. Just learned that as a non-EU migrant, despite having a visa and a local Anmeldung, I'm not eligible to vote for the upcoming local elections, nor even sign local petitions submitted to the local Senate.

This seems ridiculous to me. Why bar residents from local political participation? How should I interpret this other than making me feel (even more) unwanted?

I come from a less democratic state than Germany, but even there migrants can participate in local elections.