New mayor

Linz election results expected at 5.30 pm

The candidates (from left): Gerlinde Grünn (KPÖ), Martin Hajart (ÖVP), Georg Redlhammer (Neos), Dietmar Prammer (SPÖ), Lorenz Potocnik (Linz+), Michael Raml (FPÖ), Eva Schobesberger (Grüne).

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Markus Wenzel)

Seven candidates have one goal, namely to take over the office of mayor in the city of Linz. The polling stations are open until 4 pm today, and the results could be known an hour and a half later. However, many expect a low voter turnout. 

The people of Linz have nine hours today, Sunday, to vote for one of the seven candidates - and not only Linzers with Austrian citizenship can cast a cross in this election. Citizens of other member states of the European Union who have their main residence in Linz are also eligible to vote. Officially, voting starts at 7 am.

Only 7.8 percent of voters have applied for a polling card
A total of exactly 151,668 men and women are called to cast their vote today. However, it was already clear in advance that voter turnout could be rather low. The reason why this was already clear before today's election: only 11,811 polling cards were issued by the magistrate - and that allows a calculation to be made. This means that only 7.8% of all eligible voters made use of this form of (early) voting.

A look up from Linz's new town hall. Who will sit in the mayor's office in future?

(Bild: Werner Pöchinger)

In all other elections, the proportion of polling cards has recently been almost 20 percent. At the last election on September 26, 2021, voter turnout was a weak 57.5 percent. This means that 64,805 Linzers did not cast their vote at all. There were ten candidates back then. There was a run-off election, which only one in three Linzers attended. A run-off is also expected after today's election.

Polls close at 4 pm, then counting begins
The counting of votes will not begin today until the last polling station has closed. According to the city electoral authority, this is the case at 4 pm. Counting will then take place in the more than 230 polling districts before the results are sent to the town hall. A result is not expected before 5.30 pm.