Voters go to the polls in German elections - in pictures

  • Supporters of the SPD react to the first results of the federal election in front of the Willy Brandt House, Berlin. AP
    Supporters of the SPD react to the first results of the federal election in front of the Willy Brandt House, Berlin. AP
  • Voters are going to the polls nationwide in elections that herald the end of the 16-year chancellorship of Angela Merkel and the strong possibility of a new, German Social Democrats (SPD)-led coalition government. Getty Images
    Voters are going to the polls nationwide in elections that herald the end of the 16-year chancellorship of Angela Merkel and the strong possibility of a new, German Social Democrats (SPD)-led coalition government. Getty Images
  • People arrive to cast their ballots in the federal parliamentary elections in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images
    People arrive to cast their ballots in the federal parliamentary elections in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images
  • A person casts their vote as Olaf Scholz, the Social Democratic Party candidate for chancellor, sits at a polling booth to vote in the general election, in Potsdam. Reuters
    A person casts their vote as Olaf Scholz, the Social Democratic Party candidate for chancellor, sits at a polling booth to vote in the general election, in Potsdam. Reuters
  • Annalena Baerbock, chancellor candidate of the German Greens Party, departs after casting her ballot in federal parliamentary elections in Potsdam. Getty Images
    Annalena Baerbock, chancellor candidate of the German Greens Party, departs after casting her ballot in federal parliamentary elections in Potsdam. Getty Images
  • Germany's conservative Christian Democratic Union leader and candidate for chancellor Armin Laschet and his wife Susanne Laschet arrive to cast their ballots at a polling station in Aachen, in western Germany. AFP
    Germany's conservative Christian Democratic Union leader and candidate for chancellor Armin Laschet and his wife Susanne Laschet arrive to cast their ballots at a polling station in Aachen, in western Germany. AFP
  • Olaf Scholz, chancellor candidate of the German Social Democrats, votes in the federal parliamentary elections at a polling station in Potsdam. Getty Images
    Olaf Scholz, chancellor candidate of the German Social Democrats, votes in the federal parliamentary elections at a polling station in Potsdam. Getty Images
  • Voters stand in line to get their ballot papers and cast their votes at a polling station in Berlin. AFP
    Voters stand in line to get their ballot papers and cast their votes at a polling station in Berlin. AFP
  • A young mother with two children kneels behind the voting booth at the Jane Addams School in Friedrichshain in Berlin to fill out her ballot papers. AP
    A young mother with two children kneels behind the voting booth at the Jane Addams School in Friedrichshain in Berlin to fill out her ballot papers. AP
  • A sign for a polling station at a car dealership in Lemgo, Germany. AP
    A sign for a polling station at a car dealership in Lemgo, Germany. AP
  • A woman wearing the traditional Black Forest costume votes in Gutach, in the Black Forest, Germany. Reuters
    A woman wearing the traditional Black Forest costume votes in Gutach, in the Black Forest, Germany. Reuters
  • A supporter waves an SPD a flag at party headquarters in Berlin. AP
    A supporter waves an SPD a flag at party headquarters in Berlin. AP
  • SPD members follow early results on their phones at party headquarters in Berlin. Getty Images
    SPD members follow early results on their phones at party headquarters in Berlin. Getty Images
  • Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives at the CDU headquarters. AFP
    Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives at the CDU headquarters. AFP
  • Berlin's CDU parliamentary group leader Burkard Dregger notes the first forecasts for the outcome of the Bundestag elections. Getty Images
    Berlin's CDU parliamentary group leader Burkard Dregger notes the first forecasts for the outcome of the Bundestag elections. Getty Images
  • CDU supporters in Berlin look on nervously at exit poll forecasts. These predict that the CDU and SPD will each receive about 25 per cent of the vote. AP
    CDU supporters in Berlin look on nervously at exit poll forecasts. These predict that the CDU and SPD will each receive about 25 per cent of the vote. AP
  • CDU activists follow results on their phones at party headquarters in Berlin. Getty Images
    CDU activists follow results on their phones at party headquarters in Berlin. Getty Images
  • Members of the media record the reactions of CDU activists watching exit poll predictions. Getty Images
    Members of the media record the reactions of CDU activists watching exit poll predictions. Getty Images
  • Green Party activists follow the exit poll predictions in Berlin. AP Photo
    Green Party activists follow the exit poll predictions in Berlin. AP Photo
  • Bettina Jarasch, the Berlin Greens' top candidate for election to the Bundestag, welcomes the first exit poll forecasts. The Greens were forecast to take 15 per cent of the vote. AP
    Bettina Jarasch, the Berlin Greens' top candidate for election to the Bundestag, welcomes the first exit poll forecasts. The Greens were forecast to take 15 per cent of the vote. AP
  • Green party activists follow exit poll predictions. The Greens could be major players in a coalition government. EPA
    Green party activists follow exit poll predictions. The Greens could be major players in a coalition government. EPA
  • Armin Laschet, CDU leader and top candidate for chancellor, gives his reaction to the first exit polls. Reuters
    Armin Laschet, CDU leader and top candidate for chancellor, gives his reaction to the first exit polls. Reuters
  • Armin Laschet, the CDU's candidate for chancellor, Chancellor Angela Merkel and party members at CDU headquarters in Berlin. Getty Images
    Armin Laschet, the CDU's candidate for chancellor, Chancellor Angela Merkel and party members at CDU headquarters in Berlin. Getty Images
  • Annalena Baerbock, Green party co-leader and candidate for chancellor, with her fellow leader Robert Habeck, at their election party in Berlin. AP
    Annalena Baerbock, Green party co-leader and candidate for chancellor, with her fellow leader Robert Habeck, at their election party in Berlin. AP