Polls will close at 6 p.m. local time (12 p.m. EST), and it will likely become clear in the ensuing hours which party has the highest share of votes. Determining who will lead as chancellor will take longer, as it first has to be determined which parties will control the Bundestag, and then the leader is chosen by its members.

Polls have shown that about 20% of the German electorate remained undecided ahead of election day, while close to 60 million people are eligible to vote.