You can then fill it out and send it by post, messenger or even to the district election authority. What’s new is that you can cast your vote when you personally collect your ballot card from the municipality or the magistrate – a kind of “pre-election day”.
This innovation was decided upon with the electoral reform in 2023 and was applied for the first time in the EU elections in June. All those who do not have their voting card sent to them but collect it themselves from the municipality or the magistrate can vote on site this time and return the completed voting card – similar to a “pre-election day”.
“Flying Election Authority”
But there are other ways to cast your vote. Before September 29th, you can send your vote by post from within Austria or abroad, or bring it directly to the district electoral authority, then cast it at a “foreign” polling station anywhere in Austria on election Sunday, or – if you are bedridden – vote in front of a “flying electoral authority”.
A voting card is required for every vote outside of your “own” polling station. You should get one quickly – because only the votes that are received by the electoral authority by 5 p.m. on September 29th will count.
The individual steps for postal and ballot voting:
– Apply for a voting card: In writing (by letter, card from the election folder, fax, email, with ID Austria in the “Digital Office” app, online) or in person at the municipality whose voter register you are on. You must prove your identity. The last date for the written application is the Wednesday before the election (September 25th) – if you or an authorized representative pick it up at the municipal office (municipal district office), the deadline is the Friday before the election (September 27th) at 12 noon.
– Postal voting: tick your party on the ballot paper, enter one preferential vote candidate from the same party for the federal and state governments if you wish (lists are enclosed), tick one preferential vote candidate from the same party for the constituency – put the ballot paper in the ungummed ballot envelope and put it back in the ballot card – confirm by signing that you have voted personally, unobserved and without influence – seal the ballot card.
– By post: The address of the district electoral authority is printed on the postage, and the federal government pays for the postage. The ballot must be in the post office mailbox by 9 a.m. on September 28th at the latest; the post office will, as an exception, collect the ballots on Saturday and deliver them on time.
– Hand it in to the electoral authority: If you have picked it up in person, you can fill it out and hand it in straight away at the municipality or the magistrate’s office. Another option is to hand it in either personally or through someone else to the district electoral authority.
– Voting at the ballot box on September 29th: In person at your “own” polling station or at any polling station in Austria – but only with an empty voting card. This can be exchanged for a ballot paper at the polling station. Please note that many polling stations are not open until 5 p.m.
– Voting abroad: Voting abroad can only be done by postal vote. The deadline for postal votes from abroad is also Sunday, 5 p.m. As the postal service takes longer, you should decide quickly. In the EU and Switzerland, the completed voting cards can be handed in to an Austrian representative authority or unit until Monday, September 23. Outside the EEA, this is only possible until Friday, September 20. They will then forward the voting card to the responsible district electoral authority.
