Two sides of an election have different technical names.
An election involves people casting votes and people standing as candidates. “Active” and “passive” identify these legal roles. They do not judge how hardworking or politically interested a person is.
A candidate can also be eligible to vote. They then hold both rights under the respective conditions. The words distinguish functions, not necessarily two separate groups of people.
The other three answers
Separate eligibility from candidacy, obligation and electoral-board duties.
You can be elected.
Being eligible to be elected is passive suffrage. “Active” in this question means casting your own vote.
You must vote.
Being allowed to vote does not mean being required to vote. Germany has no legal duty to vote.
You must go to the vote counting.
Attending or helping with the count is not the meaning of active suffrage. Electoral-board duties belong to a separate public role.
The term explains the right, not every eligibility condition.
For federal elections, the conditions generally include German citizenship and being at least 18 on election day. The Federal Elections Act specifies further details. The definition “being allowed to vote” does not replace that assessment.
“Active” does not require joining a party, campaigning or publicly naming your choice. Voting rights and ballot secrecy also apply to people who do not engage politically outside casting their vote.
Active suffrage · Federal Returning Officer ↗Active: vote. Passive: be elected.
Link the terms to the two verb forms, not a judgement about the person.
Three words for this question
- das aktive Wahlrechtactive suffrage
- The right to cast a vote.
- das passive Wahlrechtpassive suffrage
- The right to be elected.
- die Wählbarkeiteligibility to stand for election
- Legal eligibility to be elected as a candidate.