Voter Turnout Could Remain Low in Vienna Election 2025

Due to the expected clear election outcome, interest in voting might be low. Five years ago, in the Vienna election, less than two-thirds (65.27 percent) of eligible voters exercised their right to vote. The Ibiza scandal, the FPÖ expense scandal, and the COVID-19 pandemic led to a decline in voter turnout by over 9 percentage points.

Vienna Election: Voter Turnout Significantly Increased in 2010 and 2015

This was not a historic low and is hardly expected this time either: For that, participation would have to fall below the 60.81 percent it dropped to in 2005. In 2010 and 2015, there was a - quite remarkable - increase of around seven percentage points each. With 74.75 percent, interest in 2015 was as high as it had last been in 1983. The reason for the mobilization of voters was the strong polarization in light of the refugee crisis and the predicted or staged "duel for Vienna" between FPÖ and SPÖ.

If voter turnout increases again, Vienna would be in line with the national trend. In all state elections since 2022, the proportion of votes cast has increased. The current record holder among the federal states is Burgenland with 78.73 percent, while the lowest is Tyrol, although even there voter turnout recovered in 2022 from 60.00 percent to at least 65.02 percent.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.