Elections in Austria

Elections are a central part of democracy in Austria. Eligible voters cast their votes freely, personally and secretly. No one has to disclose which party or person they voted for. There are several types of elections in Austria. These include, in particular, elections to the National Council (Nationalrat), state parliament elections, municipal council elections, federal presidential elections and elections to the European Parliament. They concern different levels of government and therefore serve different purposes. In elections to the National Council, the members of the National Council are determined. The result influences which political majorities are possible in parliament. The federal government is not directly elected by the people as a joint team; instead, it emerges through the interaction of the constitutional bodies and political majorities. State parliament elections determine the composition of a federal state’s parliament. Municipal council elections decide on local political representation. How the office of mayor is filled is not regulated in the same way everywhere and depends on the law of the respective federal state. In the federal presidential election, the head of state is elected directly. In European elections, eligible voters determine Austria’s members of the European Parliament. These elections therefore concern different responsibilities than elections to the National Council or municipal councils. Many representative bodies are elected according to the principles of proportional representation. Parties are intended to receive mandates approximately in line with their share of the vote, provided the applicable requirements are met. Preference votes may also play a role depending on the election. Before an election, an electoral register is maintained. On election day, voting usually takes place at an assigned polling station; a voting card (Wahlkarte) provides additional options. What matters is that the ballot paper is completed in accordance with the requirements and cast without being observed. After polling stations close, the votes are counted according to established rules and the results are consolidated. Scrutineers, electoral authorities and documented procedures are intended to ensure that the election is conducted correctly. The rules of the respective election apply to the distribution of mandates. Elections set a political direction, but they do not immediately resolve every policy issue. Elected bodies must deliberate, build majorities and observe legal and financial constraints. People who vote while informed and also participate between elections strengthen democratic oversight.