Seven candidates have one goal, namely to take over the office of mayor of the city of Linz. The polling stations are open until 4pm today and the results could be known an hour and a half later. However, many expect a low turnout in the elections.
Today, Sunday, Linz residents have nine hours to vote for one of seven candidates – although not only Linzers with Austrian citizenship are allowed to vote in these elections. Citizens of other Member States of the European Union who have their main residence in Linz also have the right to vote. In any case, it officially starts at 7 a.m.
Only 7.8 percent of voters requested an absentee ballot
A total of exactly 151,668 women and men are being called to cast their vote today. However, it was clear in advance that turnout in elections could be quite low. Why this was already clear before today’s elections: the magistrate issued only 11,811 voting cards – and that makes a calculation possible. This means that only 7.8% of all eligible voters have used this form of (earlier) voting.
In all other elections, the share of voting cards has recently amounted to almost 20 percent. In the last election on September 26, 2021, turnout was a weak 57.5 percent. This means: 64,805 people from Linz did not vote. There were ten candidates at the time. There was a second election, in which only one in three Linzers came. A second election is also expected after today’s elections.
Voting closes at 4 p.m., after which counting begins
In any case, counting of votes will only start today when the last polling station is closed. According to the city elections office, that will happen at 4 p.m. Counting is then carried out in more than 230 constituencies before the results are sent to the town hall. A result is not expected before 5:30 p.m.
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.
