Presidential Rerun in Austria: What is It All About?

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the constitution of Austria, the head of state, known as the federal president, fulfills a fairly limited and, for the most part, symbolic set of functions. The president is elected by nation-wide vote for a six-year term, but for no more than two consecutive terms. The voting age for Austrian citizens is 16.

According to Austrian election law, a citizen who is 35 years old by election day is eligible to run for federal president. The constitution states that the position of the federal president cannot be held jointly with any other public office. During the entire term the federal president cannot join any representative body or engage in any other professional activities.

A candidate’s nomination must be backed by the signatures of at least 6,000 voters. In each signed statement of support, the relevant community must confirm that the signer is on the voter rolls and is eligible to vote.

In addition to submitting the required nominating forms, a candidate must pay 3,600 euros ($3,800) in cash. Nominations are accepted by the Federal Election Commission until 31 days before the vote.

The federal territory of Austria is divided into nine land constituencies for the election. Each land forms one constituency. Every administrative district and every city with its own statute represents an electoral precinct, Stimmbezirk. In Vienna every municipal district is also an electoral precinct.

Two days before the election, every voter receives by mail a booklet with “official election information.” Apart from important information about election procedures, the booklet informs voters about the location of their polling station. Those who cannot vote at their polling station can submit a special ballot, which must be received in advance, at any election precinct in Austria or vote by mail. The election commission may visit sick voters at home by request.

The special ballot for voting by mail must be posted on election day before 5 p.m. by mail or courier or brought personally to the precinct election commission.

Voters must present ID — passport, license or student card. Those who wish to vote via special ballot at their polling station also must bring ID. Each voter receives a paper ballot and an envelope for voting at their polling station. The voter fills in the paper ballot, seals it in an envelope in the voting booth, and puts the envelope into the ballot box.

Presidential elections in Austria are based on a majoritarian electoral system requiring an absolute majority. The Federal Election Commission certifies as the winner the candidate receiving more than half of all votes. If no candidate receives over 50 percent, a second round is held on the fifth Sunday after the first round. The two candidates that received the most votes in the first round take part in the second round.

Two rounds were required in Austria during the presidential election in the spring of 2016. The former leader of the Greens party, Alexander Van der Bellen, won the election by a margin of 0.6 percent, beating the candidate of the right-wing Party of Freedom, Norbert Hofer. His victory was ensured by mailed ballots that were counted at the very end. Until then it seemed clear that Hofer would win.

The leader of the Freedom Party, Heinz-Christian Strache, complained of numerous violations in the vote count. He said over 570,000 ballots were registered incorrectly.

The Constitutional Court annulled the results of the vote and announced a new round with the same nominees on October 2. Later on it was revealed that massive damage had been done to ballots prepared for early voting. As a result the election was delayed until December 4, 2016.