The ballot papers and voting cards will be redesigned. This should make it clearer where you have to sign a voting card – which has been the most common reason for an invalid vote so far. A voting card can be requested in writing by September 22nd and verbally by September 24th.
Another new feature is that the preferential votes for the state list candidates will in future also be given by cross and no longer by hand. This was a frequent problem in previous elections if the writing was illegible or if the names were identical. The ballot is therefore a bit more extensive and has the format A2. In addition, the candidacy on the state list of a party is no longer linked to a candidacy in the constituency.
More women, more money
With the next legislative period, the club’s finances will be linked to the women’s quota in the parliamentary group: If the proportion of women is at least 40 percent, there is a three percent increase in the budget. At the moment, only the Greens and the SPÖ would meet this criterion. The regulation is based on the passage in the Federal Club Financing Act, which has been in force since 2019, which also provides for three percent more funds from 40 percent women.
For all those who do service in the polling stations, an absolute duty of confidentiality applies as a result of the last federal presidential election. The dissemination of results before the election deadline is prohibited, the penalty range has been increased from 220 to 700 euros. In return, election witnesses are given more rights and are allowed to participate in the counting at the polling station.
Later appointment with Corona
Should a fourth corona wave roll in, the amendment contains a disaster emergency plan: If it was previously not legally possible to postpone the balloting, the state government can now postpone the election for up to six months if it is held due to “unrest, health-related Hazardous situations, natural events, catastrophes and other comparable crisis situations “is not possible. A two-thirds majority in the state parliament is required.
