Over 6 Crore German voters cast their ballots on Sunday to elect a new Bundestag, or the federal parliament, on which to form a new government for the next four years and usher in the post-Merkel era. According to the sources, around 60.4 million citizens cased their votes. Polling stations were opened on Sunday from 8 AM to 6 PM (local time). However, at least 40 percent of eligible voters have cast their ballots by post, compared to 28.6 percent in the last election in 2017. Germany's Social Democrats narrowly won Sunday's national election, projected results showed, and claimed a clear mandate to lead a government for the first time since 2005 and to end 16 years of conservative-led rule under Angela Merkel. Watch this video.