On Sunday, 78.73 percent of the 250,400 eligible voters, which is 3.79 percentage points more than in 2020, went to the polls. At that time, voter turnout in Burgenland had fallen below the 75 percent mark for the first time (74.94 percent).

In general, the people of Burgenland are among the most diligent voters in a comparison of federal states, only in Upper Austria was the turnout higher in the last state election.

Voter Turnout Increased in All Recent State and National Council Elections

In the six state elections in Austria that have taken place since 2022, voter turnout has increased everywhere. More eligible voters also went to the polls in the National Council election. This trend has now continued in Burgenland. Since 1945, voter turnout in the easternmost federal state has been declining with a few exceptions - most recently in 2000 there was a slight increase of 1.2 percentage points. Although there has never been a voting obligation, participation has never plummeted as much as elsewhere. In 2020, for the first time, less than three quarters in Burgenland exercised their right to vote - but only slightly less.

Pre-Election Day Predicted Higher Voter Turnout

The advanced voting day on January 10, where this time already 13.68 percent of all eligible voters had cast their vote (in 2020 it was 11.02 percent), had given an indication that voter turnout could increase again. The pre-election day has been offered since 2015 in addition to postal voting to support participation.

In the National Council election, voter turnout in Burgenland is traditionally higher than the federal trend. In the National Council election last autumn, 82.53 percent of the people of Burgenland exercised their right to vote - nationwide it was 77.68 percent.

(APA/Red)

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