RECENT EVENT

“Information Technology in the Electoral Process”

May 26-27 Krems, Austria

                     For more information click here

Description of Electoral System:

The President is elected by direct popular vote to serve a 6-year term. In the Council (Bundesrat) 62 members are chosen by provincial assemblies in proportion to party representation to serve 5-year terms. In the National Council (Nationalrat) 183 members are elected by direct popular vote to serve 4-year terms.

Electoral Systems Snapshot

(Courtesy of International IDEA)

*Click on links for definitions

WANT MORE ELECTION-RELATED STATS FOR AUSTRIA? Go to "election databases" on the left-hand menu of this page OR comparative data on the right-hand menu and choose your area of interest.

Politics of Austria

(Courtesy of Wikipedia)

DID YOU KNOW?
The turnout of slightly above 70% of registered voters for the 2004 presidential elections was considered low by Austrian standards.

Austria has a multi-party system. From 1945 to 1986 Austria had two strong parties and a third party that was electorally successful; since 1986, four parties (for a few years 5) are represented in parliament. Parties need to pass a four percent vote share threshold or to receive a direct seat at the local level to be represented in the National Council.

The voting age is 18 for federal elections and for other elections in most states, although recent years have seen it lowered to 16 for state and local elections in some states.