Parliament and Elections

General information on elections, as well as details on voting rights and National Council elections.

Elections as the backbone of democracy

The Constitution states: "Austria is a democratic republic. Its laws emanate from the people" (Article 1 of the Federal Constitution Act). However, Austrians do not pass their own laws. Through the National Council election, they elect representatives who are tasked with drafting legislation in accordance with their wishes: the Members of the National Council.

This provision is to be understood as meaning that all laws in Austria are to be passed by parliaments. These parliaments are elected in democratic electoral processes.

In doing so, eligible voters do not merely determine which parties should be represented in Parliament; they also assess the parties’ previous work in Parliament. It is also said that, at elections, incumbent Members of Parliament and parties face up to their political responsibilities.

Parties may lose support and, as a result, be represented in Parliament by fewer Members – or not at all – after the election. However, they may also gain votes and be reinforced in their existing political stance.

The right to vote

Austria is a representative democracy (or parliamentary democracy). This means that MPs, as elected representatives, pass laws and oversee the government’s actions. Laws are not passed directly by the people, but by parliaments. Free elections are a hallmark of every democracy.

The principles of the Austrian electoral system are laid down in the Federal Constitution Act. It stipulates that elections must be universal, equal, direct, personal, secret, and free.

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What the people can do

Even in a representative democracy, the people can influence political decisions themselves: in Austria, this can be done through citizens’ initiatives, referendums, and public consultations. All three are instruments of direct democracy.

In Austria, the people are never permitted to decide in place of Parliament. Even when a referendum is held, the matter put to the vote must first have been decided by the National Council and the Federal Council. In such cases, this legislative decision comes into effect only if it receives more ‘YES’ than ‘NO’ votes in the referendum.

At the heart of participation, however, lies the right to vote. In Austria, every citizen of a certain age or older has the right to take part in elections.

Elections to the National Council

In National Council elections, the candidates nominated by the parties on their lists are elected as representatives of the people in Parliament. The election result is key to how power is distributed within the new government.

Find out more here about ballots, postal voting, polling cards, how the votes are counted, and information on the allocation of seats in National Council elections.

FAQ

For more information about the parliament, elections, or political parties, visit our English FAQ section.

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