The countdown is on: This is how the Vienna elections on Sunday will be a spectacle!

The countdown is on: This is how the Vienna elections on Sunday will be a spectacle!

On April 25th, 2025, the eyes of Viennese citizens will turn to the upcoming elections on Sunday, April 27th. These elections are not only crucial for the composition of the municipal council, but also for the district representatives in Vienna's 23 districts. The elections take place every five years and are of great importance for the city.

The Vienna elections involve the election of the municipal council and the district representatives simultaneously, with the municipal council consisting of 100 members who are elected by citizens eligible to vote. How oesterreich.gv.at reported, each district council is made up of district councilors, the number of which depends on the number of inhabitants.

Schedule and process of the election

The polling stations in Vienna open at 7 a.m. on election day and close at 5 p.m. A total of 1,504 polling stations are available in all 23 districts oe24.at reported. All voting materials, including absentee ballots, must be submitted by the time polls close.

The counting of votes begins immediately after the polling stations close. First, the ballots are counted, followed by the postal votes, which this year will be counted directly on election day for the first time. The first trend forecasts based on voter surveys will be published shortly after 5 p.m., while the first projections are expected around 6 p.m.

The detailed results, which include the distribution of mandates and district results, are expected after 7 p.m. and the preliminary final result is expected to be announced around 9 p.m. The parties' election parties typically start at around 6 p.m. in party headquarters or other rented rooms.

Political landscape and polls

According to polls, the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) will remain the strongest force in the local council, with values ​​just above or below 40%. Incumbent Michael Ludwig leads the SPÖ, which has been the mayor since 1945. The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) is expected to finish well behind the SPÖ, with predictions of just over 20%.

Compared to previous elections, the FPÖ has experienced a significant decline - in 2020 it was only 7%, while in 2015 it reached almost 31%. The Greens, ÖVP and Neos are fighting for third place, with polls showing them all at just above or below 10%. An alliance between the KPÖ and the Left could just about exceed the 5 percent hurdle.

These elections are particularly notable because they will not only affect representation at council and district meetings, but will also determine the city's political direction for years to come. The voter information emphasizes that all Austrian citizens and EU citizens with their main residence in Vienna who are at least 16 years old on election day are eligible to vote in elections.

Next Sunday, the residents of Vienna will have to decide how the future of their city should be shaped.