Hesse State Premier Roland Koch (L, CDU) casts his ballot under the eyes of his wife Anke (R) on January 18, 2009 in Eschborn, western Germany, during elections in the regional state of Hesse. Voters in the German state of Hesse began casting ballots at the start of a marathon election year expected to propel Chancellor Angela Merkel to a second term. AFP PHOTO DDP/ TORSTEN SILZ GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read TORSTEN SILZ/AFP/Getty Images)