polling station
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polling station
A public place, usually in a school or community center, where eligible citizens can cast their vote in an election.
Die Wahllokale schließen pünktlich um 18:00 Uhr.
The polling stations close promptly at 6:00 p.m.
The word is made up of 'Wahl' (election, from 'wählen' — to vote) and 'Lokal' (place, premises). So it is literally the place where an election takes place.
Viele Wahllokale sind in öffentlichen Schulen untergebracht.
Many polling stations are located in public schools.
Pay attention to the difference between 'in' with the dative and accusative. You go 'ins Wahllokal' (to the polling station: direction, accusative), but you vote 'im Wahllokal' (at/in the polling station: location, dative).
Um meine Stimme abzugeben, muss ich ins Wahllokal gehen.
To cast my vote, I have to go to the polling station.
In connection with elections, you often hear when polling stations 'öffnen' (open) and 'schließen' (close). These verbs are very typical in this context.
Am Wahlsonntag öffnen die Wahllokale um 8 Uhr morgens.
On election Sunday, the polling stations open at 8 in the morning.
electoral district
'das Wahllokal' and 'der Wahlbezirk' both belong to the topic of elections. The difference is: a 'Wahllokal' is a specific place, for example a room in a school, where you cast your vote. A 'Wahlbezirk' is a specific area with voters. A 'Wahlbezirk' usually has a specific 'Wahllokal' assigned to it. The words can be confused because both may appear on voter notifications. In practical terms: you belong to a 'Wahlbezirk'; you go to a 'Wahllokal'.
Unser Wahllokal ist dieses Jahr in der Grundschule neben dem Park.
Our polling station is in the elementary school next to the park this year.
Nach dem Umzug gehört Maria zu einem anderen Wahlbezirk.
After moving, Maria belongs to a different electoral district.