On September 29, Austrians will not only be able to vote alongside a party, but also write multiple names on the ballot. But what are these preferential votes about and why are they so important to some? The “Krone” clarifies and spoke to five preferential vote knights.
The 2024 National Council elections in Austria are fast approaching. While the majority of voters are focused on voting for the right party, they can actively influence the composition of parliament through the preferential voting system. Because candidates with the required number of preferential votes can immediately secure their place in the ranks of parliament. There is just one catch: you will definitely kick a colleague from your own party out of the House and sometimes into the void. But how does the system work?
Don’t just cruise
In the elections for the National Council, every voter in Austria not only has the opportunity to vote for a party, but also to support individual candidates within (!) the chosen party with a preferential vote. A maximum of three candidates on the federal and state electoral lists and one on the regional electoral list can receive a preferential vote. Crucial to the preferential voting system is that a politician who receives sufficient preferential votes can move up in the order of the party lists. A high ranking on the list means a more realistic chance of winning a mandate.
How many votes are needed?
In order to actually enter the National Council through preferential votes, certain thresholds must be exceeded. At the federal level, a candidate must obtain 7 percent of the party votes in the entire country, at the state level 10 percent and at the regional level even 14 percent of the votes in the region concerned. And we are not talking about a few hundred signatures here. Even in the regional constituency, candidates from the larger parties barely have to exceed the 5,000 threshold. At the federal level, there could be 75,000 votes or more. The obstacles are high, but the reward is a seat in parliament. What does this success sometimes entail? Possibly the displeasure of one’s own party, but certainly the aversion of the party friend whose place one has thus won.
Andreas Hanger (ÖVP):
“Crown”: Why would voters prefer you if your party didn’t put you at the top of the list?
Pendant: There is a wide range of personality votes in the National Council elections. In addition to a party, you can give a preferential vote at the federal and state level or in the regional constituency (by ticking). A preferential vote gives a candidate political weight to best represent his or her concerns in the National Council. The more preferential votes, the more political weight. For this reason, I am campaigning for preferential votes in my constituency (3C, Mostviertel, these are the districts of Amstetten, Melk and Scheibbs).
What makes you suitable for this position?
I have been allowed to represent my constituency Mostviertel in the Vienna Parliament for more than ten years now. Thanks to these many years of experience, I know parliamentary work very well. I am particularly well-versed in financial and budgetary issues. My other focus of my work is on the topics of “volunteer work” and “volunteering”. We have been able to achieve concrete improvements here in the past legislative term through a new “Volunteer Act” or the “Non-Profit Reform Act”. I am also pleased that we in the Mostviertel are an absolute model region in the field of digital infrastructure (expansion of fibre optics). I was also able to deal specifically with this topic.
Should your preferential vote campaign also be seen as criticism of your party’s line?
No, my only concern is to give my political work the right weight through as many personal preference votes as possible.
Do you consider yourself the voice of the grassroots?
There is no weekend in which I am not in direct contact with citizens at various events. From these conversations I know exactly what topics people are ‘struggling’ with. Yes, that is why I consider myself a ‘voice of the grassroots’.
How does your opinion differ from that of your party?
There are always different opinions on detailed issues, which is part of a vibrant democracy. When it comes to the big issues of security, performance and family, I support our party’s line 100%. This program was also developed together. I can also identify 100% with our election slogan “We.The Center”.
Muna Duzdar (SPÖ):
“Crown”: Why would voters prefer you if your party didn’t put you at the top of the list?
Duzdar: I have always campaigned for preferential votes in elections. With a preferential vote, voters can have a say in who will represent them and their party in the National Council. That is a good thing! I have been a supporter of Andi Babler from the beginning and stand for renewal. As a lawyer and politician, I am driven by a deep desire for justice. I stand up for all those people who have not fallen on the buttery side of life. My great concern is that Austria becomes fairer again.
What makes you suitable for this position?
I am currently a member of the National Council and media spokesperson for the SPÖ. I was also a state secretary in the government of Christian Kern. In addition, I run a law firm and therefore know the business side very well. And yes, I come from the party base. Together with my section, I am politically active in Kaisermühlen, regardless of the time of year, rain or shine.
Should your preferential vote campaign also be seen as criticism of your party’s line?
You can’t see it that close. First and foremost, we all want to give the SPÖ as many votes as possible. In the last elections for the National Council, I brought thousands of votes to the party and I will do the same this time.
Do you consider yourself the voice of the grassroots?
Yes. In politics it is very important not to stand out. Whatever you do, whatever role you play, you have to keep your heart on the ground, listen to people, know and understand their concerns. For this reason I am always politically active in my district Donaustadt and my neighborhood, hand out flyers and discuss things with people at our regular landlord.
How does your opinion differ from that of your party?
I am deeply rooted in social democracy and see no differences in content. But I certainly place a stronger emphasis on opening up and democratizing the party than others.
Laura Sachslehner (ÖVP):
“Crown”: Why would voters prefer you if your party didn’t put you at the top of the list?
Sachslehner: In both a democracy and a party, it is always about finding majorities for one’s own convictions. I have proven in the past that I am not interested in positions, but in a clear center-right course and politics with backbone. One thing is clear: a preferential vote is for me a vote for a consistent center-right course in this country and also within the People’s Party.
What makes you suitable for this position?
I have proven in the past that I am not above fighting tough battles. But for me it is not about the position, it is about giving Austria an urgently needed center-right policy. I want to be a loud voice for this.
Should your preferential vote campaign also be seen as criticism of your party’s line?
A party like the People’s Party has always distinguished itself by its breadth. I argue that ideological fantasies such as a climate bonus for asylum seekers, uncontrolled immigration or the selling out of our citizenship should finally no longer be part of our reality.
Do you consider yourself the voice of the grassroots?
I leave it to others to presume to speak for someone else. I want to be a loud voice for a consistent center-right course and thus represent all those who are currently not being heard.
How does your opinion differ from that of your party?
The core values of the People’s Party are perfectly clear. The People’s Party stands for an end to illegal migration, an end to the unbridled debt policy and an end to immigration in our social system. I will fight within the People’s Party and at all political levels to ensure that the silent majority in this country gets a voice again.
Leo Lugner (FPÖ):
“Crown”: Why would voters prefer you if your party didn’t put you at the top of the list?
Liar: With the 25th place on the federal list, the 11th place on the state list and the 3rd place in the constituency of districts 13, 14, 15 and 23, I have a prominent position. I now strive to further expand this ranking through preferential votes. Thanks to our electoral regulations, voters can directly choose their candidate. In order to give the citizens a strong right-wing voice, I have decided to conduct an election campaign with preferential votes.
What makes you suitable for this position?
In addition to my parliamentary experience at the Vienna State Parliament, I also bring valuable professional experience from the retail sector. Politicians, especially members of parliament, are representatives of the people and should not represent the interests of companies or international organizations. Understanding that is, in my opinion, the best qualification.
Should your preferential vote campaign also be seen as criticism of your party’s line?
On the contrary. My preferential vote campaign is being conducted in close cooperation with the party and aims to strengthen the overall result of the FPÖ.
Do you consider yourself the voice of the grassroots?
The grassroots are always central to us, people of freedom. Every day I support election workers, especially in my constituency. You could say that I come from the grassroots myself.
How does your opinion differ from that of your party?
I cannot think of a single point on which my opinion differs from that of my party.
Nikolaus Kowall (SPÖ):
“Crown”: Why would voters prefer you if your party didn’t put you at the top of the list?
Kowall: Who says that parties always make optimal decisions? The SPÖ Vienna tends to play it safe when it comes to personnel decisions and there is of course a certain risk in someone who stands for reform and change instead of “business as usual”. Now it is up to the voter to take that risk, not the party.
What makes you suitable for this position?
I have a PhD in economics and have several years of professional experience in the German research landscape. In the summer I published a book about seeing ecological conversion as a reconstruction project and not a decommissioning project. We need pumped storage power plants, hydrogen pipelines and recycling plants; the state and companies must work hand in hand for these large investments.
Should your preferential vote campaign also be seen as criticism of your party’s line?
I can identify with the Babler-SPÖ reshuffle in terms of content and would like to make a constructive contribution to industrial policy issues in the National Council, such as bringing our required transformation fund to life. As Viennese’s preferred candidate, I am a symbol of a generational change.
Do you consider yourself the voice of the grassroots?
There is no basis for a common opinion in a democratic party. Just as in a democracy there is no voice of the people.
How does your opinion differ from that of your party?
As I said, I can live well with the SPÖ election manifesto. But I already set a specific focus and concentrate on the question of how we should generate what we want to distribute. I am interested in an economic business model for the Babler-SPÖ.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
