German conservative candidate makes voting blunder on election day

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader and top candidate for chancellor Armin Laschet and his wife Susanne Laschet cast their vote in the general elections, in Aachen, Germany, September 26, 2021. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen/Pool

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's conservative chancellor candidate Armin Laschet https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/conservative-laschet-struggles-momentum-german-leadership-race-2021-09-21 was ridiculed on social media for a misstep on election day on Sunday, capping a campaign marred by embarrassing gaffes that hurt his popularity.

Under German voting rules, voters must keep their choice confidential until they have left the polling station. But when casting his vote in his home constituency of Aachen, Laschet folded his ballot the wrong way, revealing which party he had voted for before dropping it in the box.