Parliamentary Elections in Austria

 Austrian citizens residing in the United States are invited to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Austria (Nationalratswahl), which will take place on Sunday, October 1, 2006. Eligible to vote are those Austrians who are eighteen years or older (18th birthday on October  1, 2006 at the latest) and who are officially registered as voters living abroad in a so-called Austrian Wählerevidenzgemeinde (voter’s registry). Individuals who are not registered will not be able to apply for a voting card (Wahlkarte).

The voting card, which contains the actual ballot, can be obtained upon application from the Austrian authority concerned (Wählerevidenzgemeinde) until September 28, 2006, at the latest.

Voting cards can be dropped off at the Austrian Embassy in Washington, D.C. or at any Austrian Consulate within the U.S. after having been duly certified. If there is no Austrian representation present, one will need a second Austrian citizen to certify the voter’s identity, after which the voting card is sent directly to Austria. Voting will end at 5 pm on October 1 Middle European time (MEZ) at the latest.

It is imperative that the ballot be received by the elections office in Austria no later than Monday, October 9, 2006. Detailed information can be obtained from the Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ special election website at www.wahlinfo-bmaa.at