119 municipalities in focus

Salzburg election: these are the most important facts

439,785 people in Salzburg can cast their vote on Sunday. In the 119 municipalities, a total of 2164 seats in the local parliaments will be allocated to around 8200 candidates. 270 Salzburgers are running for mayor.(Bild: Patrick Huber Wolfgang Spitzbart APA, Krone KREATIV)

439,785 citizens of Salzburg can elect their representatives and mayors in 119 municipalities on Sunday. The first results from smaller municipalities are expected in the early afternoon.

On Sunday, the new municipal councils and mayors for the next five years will be elected in all 119 municipalities in Salzburg, 521 polling stations. A mayoral candidate must achieve an absolute majority, i.e. at least 50 percent of the votes cast.

Graphic: Salzburg municipal council elections 2024 in figures

Facts about the Salzburg municipal council election(Bild: Krone Kreativ)

If this is not achieved in the first ballot, there will be a run-off between the two candidates with the most votes in two weeks' time. If there is only one candidate, you can only vote yes or no.

Proportional representation determines the number of seats
In the election for the municipal council, the result of the election Sunday counts. Depending on the strength of a list, the mandataries are determined according to the proportional representation system. This system also determines the governing members of the municipal council or city council. This means that there are no government negotiations, as is the case after state elections, because parties with a large number of votes automatically receive a co-governing position.

Salzburg municipal council(Bild: Markus Tschepp)

Nine to 40 representatives in the municipalities
The complex distribution through the proportional representation system is calculated by computers using the d'Hondt method. The size of the municipal councils depends on the number of inhabitants in the municipality. In the federal state, for example, there are municipal councils with between nine and 25 mandates. In the city, there are 40.

You can cast your vote in 521 polling stations in the province of Salzburg on Sunday.(Bild: APA/BARBARA GINDL)

Preferential votes can help candidates
The mandates are allocated within the parties in descending order of list positions. In addition to the cross for the party, a preferential vote can also be cast for a candidate of the chosen party. If a person receives a third of the party votes as preferential votes, they automatically move up to the first place on the list.

Results only after the official close of voting
The votes will not be counted in the polling stations until after the polls have closed, as will any polling cards that have already been received. The first results from smaller municipalities are expected in the early afternoon. The provisional result in the city of Salzburg is expected to be known around 6 pm (without polling cards).