NRW is crucial to the election outcome, representing approximately 21% of the national electorate, which equates to about 12.6 million voters.

The results from the 64 electoral districts in NRW will significantly influence national trends and outcomes in the election.

First projections from the election will be available starting at 6 PM, offering insights into the performance of various parties, including CDU/CSU, AfD, SPD, FDP, and Die Linke.

The election results will not only determine the composition of the Bundestag but also potentially the next Chancellor of Germany.

The upcoming Bundestag election is highly anticipated, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), where over 12 million voters are eligible to participate.

Friedrich Merz is contesting for a seat in the Hochsauerlandkreis, a CDU stronghold where he previously secured 40.4% of the vote against SPD's Dirk Wiese, who received 32.2%.

Current Chancellor Olaf Scholz from the SPD is seeking re-election, although recent polls suggest he is trailing behind CDU candidate Friedrich Merz.

This election follows the collapse of the Ampel coalition and comes at a time when there are 59.2 million eligible voters across Germany.