The municipal election, Kommunalwahl, is an opportunity for democracy to prove itself every five years. An opportunity for residents in Düsseldorf to vote for council representatives, Wahl des Rates, district representation, Bezirksvertretung, and Mayor, Oberbürgermeister-in.

Checks and balances such as proportional representation apply to the elections. For the Lord Mayor or Mayoress every vote counts directly, representatives are selected also according to party preferences. Voting in local elections is open to expat residents from any EU country.