Starting October 1, the German Bundestag will finally abolish its paper-based attendance lists after more than 120 years. While this may sound like a milestone, it is, in reality, a reminder of how slowly digital transformation can progress – even in one of Europe’s largest economies.
The irony is striking: Across Germany, millions of employees have long been using digital time and attendance systems, whether through apps, access cards or electronic time tracking. Yet the country’s federal parliament continued to rely on paper attendance lists well into 2026.
Even more telling is what remains unchanged. Members of parliament still cannot cast their votes through a modern digital voting system. At a time when lawmakers regularly debate artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital transformation, the institution itself continues to depend on largely analog parliamentary procedures.
Replacing paper with digital attendance is a welcome step. But viewed from an international perspective, it is difficult to celebrate as a breakthrough. It highlights a broader challenge: Germany often speaks about digital leadership while moving at a pace that many other countries left behind years ago.
