Mayor chosen elections in Vorarlberg: Who pulls the loser?

Mayor chosen elections in Vorarlberg: Who pulls the loser?

Dornbirn, Österreich - Today, on March 29, 2025, the mayoral elections will take place in seven Vorarlberg municipalities. In cities such as Dornbirn, Feldkirch, Lustenau, Hard, Götzis, Lochau and Nenzing, a total of 112,058 voters are called to vote. These stitch elections have become necessary because in the first ballot two weeks ago, no candidate was able to achieve the absolute majority, which intensified the political discussions in the region. The polling stations close at 12:00 or 1:00 p.m., and initial results are expected around 2:30 p.m.

The ÖVP is represented in all stitch elections, which must assert itself against candidates from other parties in various cities. Candidates of the ÖVP and SPÖ compete against each other in Dornbirn, while in Feldkirch, Lustenau and Nenzing the opponents come from ÖVP and FPÖ. It becomes particularly exciting in the Hard and Lochau congregations, where the reigning mayors, Martin Staudinger from the SPÖ and Frank Matt from the Greens, fight for their posts. Both have been in office for five years and are now facing growing challenges.

Occupation in focus

Voter turnout is generally a significant indicator of political participation in Austria. Numerous factors influence how many citizens go to election. In addition to socio-economic and demographic variables, the electoral system plays a crucial role. Aspects such as education, time and financial means influence the ability of the voters to make political decisions and to find out more about the parties. A model by Verba et al. describes how networks and personal interest in political issues influence the turnout. parlament.gv.at states that many citizens may also choose their duty, which may also explain the turnout in Vorarlberg.

A stable turnout is important for democracy, but there are different hurdles that people can prevent voting. Geography, social mobility and even the weather conditions on election day can have a significant impact on the number of voters. Voters often go to elections that result in great political directional decisions. If the outcome of an election is considered decided, the motivation to participate is often lower.

The upcoming stab elections in Vorarlberg illustrate the complexity of the turnout and the challenges in front of which the parties are facing. Voters' interest will be crucial to shape the future political landscape in this region.