🇦🇹 Austrian Elections & Politics 6.0 - Upper Austria election: 26 Sept. 2021

[Tender Branson]

Turnout in the Vorarlberg municipal elections today dropped to 53.4%, from 58.6% in 2015.

But even before the virus, Vorarlberg had the lowest turnouts in all of Austria.

This doesn't really bode well for Vienna either, where the SPÖ is heading for a clear victory and because of the lack of a close race many voters will sit this election out as well (unlike the high 2015 state election turnout due to the migrant invasion).

As for the results today in Vorarlberg:

Not much change compared to 2015.

http://apps.vorarlberg.at/wahlen/wahl/GV/GV_2020-09-13

https://orf.at/wahl/vorarlberg20/choropleth/winner

https://orf.at/wahlergebnisse/vorarlberg-gemeindewahlen15/#analysis

The FPÖ lost 1 of their 3 mayors from 2015, the SPÖ kept all 2.

The other 92 mayors are still either ÖVP or Independents close to the ÖVP.

There are also a few runoffs in the bigger cities, but it is unlikely that the ÖVP mayors will get defeated there.

[Tender Branson]

Today, early and postal voting is starting in Vienna for the state and district elections.

Voters have 4 weeks to vote early.

https://www.vienna.at/wien-wahl-2020-versand-der-wahlkarten-hat-begonnen/6738209

There are 1.363 million eligible voters in Vienna and assuming a 70% turnout, that's ca. 954.000 votes cast.

Ca. 45% of them will be cast early or by post, so that's ca. 430.000 ballots.

Voters can request a postal ballot at their city election office and either fill it out right there and drop it off again, or take the ballot with them.

The city even has their 23 election offices opened on Saturdays.

Here's how the ballot in Vienna Inner-West looks like (10 parties, ranked by 2015-strength and by the time they handed in their signatures). On the right, there are 2 columns where voters can write-in preference votes on the district level (1 choice) and city-wide (2 choices).



Postal ballot envelope and drop-off box at the city election offices:

[Tender Branson]

More evidence that the liberal NEOS voting crowd in Vienna is a lot more leftist than the NEOS voting crowd in the rest of Austria:



"Do you support admitting 100 children from the burned-down refugee camp in Moria, Greece ?"

[Tender Branson]

NEOS is complaining that the election information letters incl. postal ballot requests going out to all 1.363 million Vienna voters contain a picture and signature of SPÖ mayor Michael Ludwig:

[Tender Branson]

The Vienna Greens are already campaigning off Trump's recent remarks on FOX News that "Austrians live in forest cities":



"More Green for Vienna."

"Who is able to create a forest city, if not Vienna ?"

https://twitter.com/BirgitHebein/status/1305914919901069312

[Tender Branson]

Dominik Nepp, FPÖ-Vienna leader, has already cast his absentee ballot in person:



Nepp, who leads the FPÖ (previously very critical of the postal/absentee voting process), says that he encourages people to vote early in-person by absentee ballot because it will limit the voter flow on election day in the precincts and it won't be too crowded then.

https://www.vienna.at/wien-wahl-fpoe-spitzenkandidat-nepp-stimmte-bereits-per-wahlkarte-ab/6743139

https://kurier.at/chronik/wien/fpoe-wien-chef-nepp-geht-frueh-waehlen-und-hofft-auf-20-prozent/401034869

[Tender Branson]

By a 2-point margin, Austrians support taking in additional children from the burned-down Moria, Greece refugee camp:

46% for
44% against

By party:

87-9 in favour - Green voters
66-26 in favour - NEOS voters
63-27 in favour - SPÖ voters
37-55 against - ÖVP voters
15-78 against - FPÖ voters

https://www.heute.at/s/45-prozent-gegen-aufnahme-von-moria-fluechtlingen-100102653

Austria has admitted 7.000 asylum seekers already this year up to July, among them 600 children below 18 years.

[CumbrianLefty]

Dominik Nepp, FPÖ-Vienna leader, has already cast his absentee ballot in person:



Nepp, who leads the FPÖ (previously very critical of the postal/absentee voting process), says that he encourages people to vote early in-person by absentee ballot because it will limit the voter flow on election day in the precincts and it won't be too crowded then.

https://www.vienna.at/wien-wahl-fpoe-spitzenkandidat-nepp-stimmte-bereits-per-wahlkarte-ab/6743139

https://kurier.at/chronik/wien/fpoe-wien-chef-nepp-geht-frueh-waehlen-und-hofft-auf-20-prozent/401034869

Thought that FPOers didn't like mask wearing?

[Tender Branson]

Dominik Nepp, FPÖ-Vienna leader, has already cast his absentee ballot in person:



Nepp, who leads the FPÖ (previously very critical of the postal/absentee voting process), says that he encourages people to vote early in-person by absentee ballot because it will limit the voter flow on election day in the precincts and it won't be too crowded then.

https://www.vienna.at/wien-wahl-fpoe-spitzenkandidat-nepp-stimmte-bereits-per-wahlkarte-ab/6743139

https://kurier.at/chronik/wien/fpoe-wien-chef-nepp-geht-frueh-waehlen-und-hofft-auf-20-prozent/401034869

Thought that FPOers didn't like mask wearing?

In government buildings, such as election offices, it is required.

[Tender Branson]

Funny, new 🍺 Beer Party 🍺 web ad, joking about Strache and Gudenus („good anus“):

[Tender Branson]

New "Profil" magazine poll.

ÖVP is back to where they were before Coronavirus ...

[Tender Branson]

Vienna mayor Michael Ludwig (Social Dems) knows how to win elections.

By working at the city’s trash collection:







https://www.krone.at/2233610

[Tender Branson]

Vienna is ramping up its efforts to conduct the state election on October 11, amid a big 2nd wave of Coronavirus. Early voting is already possible, to limit the amount of people in the precincts on election day:

(Google translated)

City prepares for safe election

More staff and comprehensive protective measures should make the Vienna election on October 11th as safe as possible due to the coronavirus. This includes, among other things: it is best to bring your own pen. It is mandatory to wear a mask - with one important exception.

Online since today, 6 a.m.

To check the identity of those entitled to vote, the protection must be removed briefly. To ensure this process is carried out safely, “identification screens” made of Plexiglas are used in every polling station.

Voting by voting card is in progress

Exactly 1,133,010 people will be eligible to vote in the municipal council election. In the district council elections there are 1,362,789 people. There are 1,494 polling stations available for them on election day between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Anyone who cannot vote at the responsible polling station on election day, for example due to being absent or for health reasons, has the option to vote now: with a voting card by postal vote directly in the responsible election office.



Mobile columns with privacy screens are available for voting. In the polling stations it is mandatory to wear mouth and nose protection. Eligible voters are asked to bring their own ballpoint pen. With a voting card, votes can already be cast by postal vote at home and abroad or on election day in any Viennese voting card polling station.

More staff for the expected rush for voting cards

In critical facilities such as nursing homes, only people who live there vote. Eligible voters from outside were allocated to other districts. Polling stations with a room size of less than 40 square meters were also moved to larger rooms. The staff for issuing voting cards has been increased in order to be prepared for the increased interest in voting cards: Compared to the 2019 National Council election, 163 more people are working in the election units.

Since the spring, the Vienna Election Service (MA 62) has been working intensively on protective measures for a safe choice of Vienna in collaboration with experts from the field of hygiene and microbiology and a mathematical model simulation. All protective measures were coordinated with the medical crisis team of the City of Vienna.

No pen in the voting booth

When voting, those entitled to vote must take mouth and nose protection with them and wear it from the entrance to the building. The electoral staff also wear mouth and nose protection in the building and at the polling station. Posters and additional stewards indicate the obligation to wear mouth and nose protection and to keep a distance of one meter. Depending on the situation at the polling station, additional folders can be flexibly parked.



Eligible voters are asked to bring their own ballpoint pen to vote. If not, disinfected pens are available at the polling station. This time there is no ballpoint pen in the voting booth itself.

Mobile special cleaning teams

In addition to the basic disinfection of voting furniture such as voting booths, ballot boxes, tables, all contact points with which the voters come into contact are wiped disinfected on election day, immediately before the start of voting time at 7:00 a.m. The contact points are disinfected every two hours on election day.

The cleaning staff was increased for this. In addition to the cleaning staff on site, mobile special cleaning teams are available on election day to remove dirt and refill soap, paper towels and toilet paper.

Ventilate every hour

The electoral staff were instructed to ventilate the polling station at least every hour for at least three minutes before the start of the election and during the rest of the day, unless the polling station was mechanically ventilated.

The city offers all municipal employees involved in the election and counting, as well as assessors and substitute assessors (as well as confidants and witnesses), a voluntary test as part of a screening program run by the state medical directorate. In total, around 12,000 people will be invited to take part in the screening. Those who take part will receive a gargle test before and after the election.

Flying electoral authorities also for CoV sufferers

Eligible voters who are unable to visit a polling station can be visited on election day by specially equipped flying electoral authorities. This also applies to voters who are sick with Covid-19 or who have been classified as suspected cases. In these special cases, protective equipment is reinforced by putting on FFP2 masks without an exhalation valve, face visors, disposable gowns and gloves. The flying electoral authorities are also supported by paramedics during CoV operations.

However, the prerequisite for voting before a flying electoral authority is a voting card, which must be applied for in writing by October 7th at the latest. If an authorized person can pick up the voting card, this is possible until October 9th, 12 noon. Special protective measures, which are based on local requirements, also apply in hospitals.

Check polling station address

Around two weeks before the election, all eligible voters will receive the “Official Voting Information” by post. This informs about the responsible polling station. Due to the changes caused by the coronavirus, the Vienna Election Service recommends checking the address of the polling station in the “Official Election Information”. The responsible polling station can also be found in the polling station search .

https://wien.orf.at/stories/3067710

[Tender Branson]

243.541 absentee ballots have already been requested in Vienna and there are still more than 2 weeks to go.

This is already more than in any other election so far, except the 2019 federal elections, when 266.150 were issued.

I don’t think that 500.000 will be reached, but 400.000, which would be every 2nd expected vote that will be cast.

https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000120209040/rekord-bei-wahlkarten-vor-wien-wahl

[Tender Branson]

The Austrian Constitutional Court will start their fall session today with a new composition of judges and hear arguments about the controversial topic of assisted suicide.

https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000120217411/warum-das-recht-auf-sterbehilfe-so-heftig-umstritten-ist

Editorial pro-assisted suicide:

https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000120214242/sterbehilfe-erlauben-im-geist-der-selbstbestimmung

Editorial against-assisted suicide:

https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000120210357/sterbehilfe-nicht-erlauben-toeten-als-tabubruch

The Court consists of 14 members, who are appointed by either the federal government, the Nationalrat or Bundesrat. The Austrian President is swearing them in, but has a veto possibility.

Unlike in the US, the judges are not appointed for life, but have to retire at 70.

The Court consists of 10 men and 4 women and has an ÖVP-affiliated President and Green-affiliated Vice-President.

6 of the judges are close to the ÖVP, 5 SPÖ-affiliated, 2 FPÖ-near and 1 Green-minded.

Claudia Kahr is the oldest judge (since 1999), Verena Madner (Vice-President) the newest since April 2020.

The current Court is tilting 8-6 Right/Left, but is in fact pretty independent and has thrown out several laws of the right-wing ÖVP/FPÖ government in the past.

[Tender Branson]

Vienna internal poll for the ÖVP by Demox Research (Sept. 6-18, n=800):



https://www.krone.at/2238688

https://www.vol.at/oevp-haelt-erwartungen-vor-wien-wahl-niedrig/6753644

The ÖVP thinks they are heavily overestimated in the public polls and are setting expectations low. They also say an "absolute majority" is possible for the SPÖ (under Vienna's election law that favours the strongest parties over the weaker parties, an absolute majority could be reached with 46% already, but only if Strache is out). The ÖVP mentions that the chances for this are small though. It's pretty clear that their aim is to demobilize potential SPÖ-voters in Vienna, by showing the party far ahead.

[Tender Branson]

2 weeks before the election, Vienna's SPÖ is marching further and further ahead.

New, big "Heute" / ATV / Unique Research poll (n=1.610, 16.-25. September):

42% SPÖ (+2.4% compared to 2015)
19% ÖVP (+9.8%)
15% Greens (+3.2%)
  9% FPÖ (-21.8%)
  7% NEOS (+0.8%)
  4% THC (+4.0%)
  4% Others (+1.6%)

There's a 5% threshold.

Projected turnout: 71% (-4 compared to 2015)

Turnout by party ("absolutely certain to vote", 10/10):

82% NEOS
79% ÖVP
75% Greens
75% SPÖ
71% FPÖ
56% THC

Are you going to vote on election day or early in-person/by postal ballot ?

51% on election day
41% early in-person/by postal ballot

By party:

69-28 election day/early or by post - THC
64-27 election day/early or by post - FPÖ
54-40 election day/early or by post - SPÖ
48-50 election day/early or by post - ÖVP
45-44 election day/early or by post - NEOS
42-44 election day/early or by post - Greens

Full Poll (PDF)

https://www.heute.at/s/wien-wahl-umfrage-die-prognose-fuer-den-wahltag-100104010

[Tender Branson]

There are also a few runoffs in the bigger cities, but it is unlikely that the ÖVP mayors will get defeated there.

WOW.

I was wrong.

There were 6 mayoral runoffs in Vorarlberg today, incl. the capital Bregenz - which is famous for the James Bond movie.

We have results from 4 of them and in 3 the ÖVP incumbent mayors got defeated today.

The capital Bregenz will get an SPÖ mayor for the first time since 1990.

In another city, the ÖVP-mayor got defeated by the Green challenger.

And in another, the ÖVP-mayor got defeated by an Independent challenger.

Only in 1 of the 4, the ÖVP-mayor defeated the FPÖ candidate.

[Tender Branson]

There are also a few runoffs in the bigger cities, but it is unlikely that the ÖVP mayors will get defeated there.

WOW.

I was wrong.

There were 6 mayoral runoffs in Vorarlberg today, incl. the capital Bregenz - which is famous for the James Bond movie.

We have results from 4 of them and in 3 the ÖVP incumbent mayors got defeated today.

The capital Bregenz will get an SPÖ mayor for the first time since 1990.

In another city, the ÖVP-mayor got defeated by the Green challenger.

And in another, the ÖVP-mayor got defeated by an Independent challenger.

Only in 1 of the 4, the ÖVP-mayor defeated the FPÖ candidate.

The results of the remaining 2 cities are in:

In Hard, the SPÖ-challenger defeated the ÖVP-mayor with 67.1% !

In Bludenz, the ÖVP-mayor survived with 51.7% vs. the SPÖ candidate.

Bottom line:

ÖVP-mayors got defeated in 4/6 runoffs today in this conservative state.

[It's Perro Sanxe wot won it]

There are also a few runoffs in the bigger cities, but it is unlikely that the ÖVP mayors will get defeated there.

WOW.

I was wrong.

There were 6 mayoral runoffs in Vorarlberg today, incl. the capital Bregenz - which is famous for the James Bond movie.

We have results from 4 of them and in 3 the ÖVP incumbent mayors got defeated today.

The capital Bregenz will get an SPÖ mayor for the first time since 1990.

In another city, the ÖVP-mayor got defeated by the Green challenger.

And in another, the ÖVP-mayor got defeated by an Independent challenger.

Only in 1 of the 4, the ÖVP-mayor defeated the FPÖ candidate.

The results of the remaining 2 cities are in:

In Hard, the SPÖ-challenger defeated the ÖVP-mayor with 67.1% !

In Bludenz, the ÖVP-mayor survived with 51.7% vs. the SPÖ candidate.

Bottom line:

ÖVP-mayors got defeated in 4/6 runoffs today in this conservative state.

Could this have any national implications?

[Tender Branson]

There are also a few runoffs in the bigger cities, but it is unlikely that the ÖVP mayors will get defeated there.

WOW.

I was wrong.

There were 6 mayoral runoffs in Vorarlberg today, incl. the capital Bregenz - which is famous for the James Bond movie.

We have results from 4 of them and in 3 the ÖVP incumbent mayors got defeated today.

The capital Bregenz will get an SPÖ mayor for the first time since 1990.

In another city, the ÖVP-mayor got defeated by the Green challenger.

And in another, the ÖVP-mayor got defeated by an Independent challenger.

Only in 1 of the 4, the ÖVP-mayor defeated the FPÖ candidate.

The results of the remaining 2 cities are in:

In Hard, the SPÖ-challenger defeated the ÖVP-mayor with 67.1% !

In Bludenz, the ÖVP-mayor survived with 51.7% vs. the SPÖ candidate.

Bottom line:

ÖVP-mayors got defeated in 4/6 runoffs today in this conservative state.

Could this have any national implications?

No, not really.

Those are just a few smaller cities in the range of 15.000-30.000 inhabitants.

But it's still funny, because the newspapers are spinning it as some kind of defeat for Chancellor Kurz.

The Vienna state election in 2 weeks is what's going to have national implications.

[CumbrianLefty]

There are also a few runoffs in the bigger cities, but it is unlikely that the ÖVP mayors will get defeated there.

WOW.

I was wrong.

There were 6 mayoral runoffs in Vorarlberg today, incl. the capital Bregenz - which is famous for the James Bond movie.

We have results from 4 of them and in 3 the ÖVP incumbent mayors got defeated today.

The capital Bregenz will get an SPÖ mayor for the first time since 1990.

In another city, the ÖVP-mayor got defeated by the Green challenger.

And in another, the ÖVP-mayor got defeated by an Independent challenger.

Only in 1 of the 4, the ÖVP-mayor defeated the FPÖ candidate.

The results of the remaining 2 cities are in:

In Hard, the SPÖ-challenger defeated the ÖVP-mayor with 67.1% !

In Bludenz, the ÖVP-mayor survived with 51.7% vs. the SPÖ candidate.

Bottom line:

ÖVP-mayors got defeated in 4/6 runoffs today in this conservative state.

Could this have any national implications?

No, not really.

Those are just a few smaller cities in the range of 15.000-30.000 inhabitants.

But it's still funny, because the newspapers are spinning it as some kind of defeat for Chancellor Kurz.

The Vienna state election in 2 weeks is what's going to have national implications.

I know local elections aren't the same as national ones, but it might still be a sign his honeymoon is wearing off just a bit?

[Tender Branson]

There are also a few runoffs in the bigger cities, but it is unlikely that the ÖVP mayors will get defeated there.

WOW.

I was wrong.

There were 6 mayoral runoffs in Vorarlberg today, incl. the capital Bregenz - which is famous for the James Bond movie.

We have results from 4 of them and in 3 the ÖVP incumbent mayors got defeated today.

The capital Bregenz will get an SPÖ mayor for the first time since 1990.

In another city, the ÖVP-mayor got defeated by the Green challenger.

And in another, the ÖVP-mayor got defeated by an Independent challenger.

Only in 1 of the 4, the ÖVP-mayor defeated the FPÖ candidate.

The results of the remaining 2 cities are in:

In Hard, the SPÖ-challenger defeated the ÖVP-mayor with 67.1% !

In Bludenz, the ÖVP-mayor survived with 51.7% vs. the SPÖ candidate.

Bottom line:

ÖVP-mayors got defeated in 4/6 runoffs today in this conservative state.

Could this have any national implications?

No, not really.

Those are just a few smaller cities in the range of 15.000-30.000 inhabitants.

But it's still funny, because the newspapers are spinning it as some kind of defeat for Chancellor Kurz.

The Vienna state election in 2 weeks is what's going to have national implications.

I know local elections aren't the same as national ones, but it might still be a sign his honeymoon is wearing off just a bit?

Kurz and the ÖVP still remain strong everywhere, but their best days are certainly behind them.

[Tender Branson]

There are also a few runoffs in the bigger cities, but it is unlikely that the ÖVP mayors will get defeated there.

WOW.

I was wrong.

There were 6 mayoral runoffs in Vorarlberg today, incl. the capital Bregenz - which is famous for the James Bond movie.

We have results from 4 of them and in 3 the ÖVP incumbent mayors got defeated today.

The capital Bregenz will get an SPÖ mayor for the first time since 1990.

In another city, the ÖVP-mayor got defeated by the Green challenger.

And in another, the ÖVP-mayor got defeated by an Independent challenger.

Only in 1 of the 4, the ÖVP-mayor defeated the FPÖ candidate.

The results of the remaining 2 cities are in:

In Hard, the SPÖ-challenger defeated the ÖVP-mayor with 67.1% !

In Bludenz, the ÖVP-mayor survived with 51.7% vs. the SPÖ candidate.

Bottom line:

ÖVP-mayors got defeated in 4/6 runoffs today in this conservative state.

Could this have any national implications?

No, not really.

Those are just a few smaller cities in the range of 15.000-30.000 inhabitants.

But it's still funny, because the newspapers are spinning it as some kind of defeat for Chancellor Kurz.

The Vienna state election in 2 weeks is what's going to have national implications.

I know local elections aren't the same as national ones, but it might still be a sign his honeymoon is wearing off just a bit?

Kurz and the ÖVP still remain strong everywhere, but their best days are certainly behind them.

There were also 3 by-elections for the city council in Lower Austria yesterday (in smaller cities though compared to the VBG ones) and the SPÖ suffered big losses there, with the ÖVP winning absolute majorities in all 3 of them.

https://noe.orf.at/stories/3068810

[Tender Branson]

Interesting result from the latest, huge Vienna poll:

"Who would be the best party leader for the Vienna-FPÖ ?"

All Vienna voters: 19% Nepp, 16% Kickl, 13% Strache, 52% undecided/other/don't care

FPÖ+THC voters: 41% Kickl, 35% Strache, 18% Nepp, 6% undecided/other/don't care

FPÖ voters: 50% Kickl, 25% Nepp, 16% Strache, 9% undecided/other/don't care

THC voters: 77% Strache, 21% Kickl, 2% Nepp, 0% undecided/other/don't care

https://infogram.com/bester-parteiobmann-fur-die-wiener-fpo-1h984wemr8pz4p3

Dominik Nepp is the current FPÖ-leader in Vienna btw.