The Austrian Presidency: How Is It Elected?

The President of Austria is directly elected by the citizens of the Republic in a free and fair popular general election. The election takes place every six years and is open to all Austrian citizens over the age of 16. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in the first round, a second ballot occurs between the two candidates with the most votes.

The Austrian president is elected by popular vote

If there is only one candidate standing in a presidential election, the electorate is granted the opportunity to either accept or reject the candidate in a referendum. This regulation was introduced in 1982 to allow an incumbent, universally acclaimed Federal President to serve a second term without an election campaign.

Voting is open to all Austrian citizens over the age of sixteen who have not been convicted of a jail term of more than one year of imprisonment.

The president is elected for a term of six years

The president of Austria is elected by popular vote for a term of six years. The constitution provides that the president is directly elected by the two-round system. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the valid votes cast in the first round, then a second ballot occurs in which only the two candidates who received the greatest number of votes in the first round may stand. However, the group that nominates one of these two candidates may instead nominate an alternative candidate in the second round.

The president is elected by secret ballot in a free and fair popular general election. The term begins when the president is inaugurated and takes office. The Federal President is elected for six years by the citizens of the Republic – by all citizens who are entitled to vote. If only one candidate runs for office, the election takes the form of a referendum. This regulation was introduced in 1982 to allow an incumbent, universally acclaimed Federal President to serve a second term without an election campaign.

Voting is open to all Austrian citizens over the age of sixteen who have not been convicted of a jail term of more than one year of imprisonment. The president is limited to two consecutive terms of office.

The president is limited to two consecutive terms

The president of Austria is elected by popular vote for a term of six years and is limited to two consecutive terms of office. Voting is open to all Austrian citizens over the age of sixteen who are entitled to vote in general parliamentary elections. This means that suffrage is universal for all Austrian citizens over the age of sixteen who have not been convicted of a jail term of more than one year of imprisonment. The president is elected by a two-round system; if no candidate receives more than 50% of valid votes cast in the first round, then a second ballot occurs in which only the two candidates who received the greatest number of votes in the first round may stand.

The constitution grants the president the power to appoint the Chancellor and, by extension, federal cabinet ministers, Supreme Court justices, military officers, and most major bureaucrats. The president may also dissolve the National Council. However, in practice, the president acts as a figurehead. The president must take an oath or affirmation of office in the presence of the Federal Assembly, swearing to faithfully observe the Constitution and all the laws of the Republic.

The office of the president of Austria was established in 1929, when the Constitution was amended to give the president sweeping executive and legislative power. The president's term was expanded to six years, and the first election was scheduled for 1934. However, due to the financial crisis of the Great Depression, the election was suspended, and Wilhelm Miklas was reelected by the Federal Assembly.

The president is elected by a two-round system

The president of Austria is elected by popular vote for a term of six years and is limited to two consecutive terms of office. Voting is open to all Austrian citizens over the age of sixteen who have not been convicted of a jail term of more than one year of imprisonment. The president is elected by a two-round system; if no candidate receives more than 50% of valid votes cast in the first round, then a second ballot occurs in which only the two candidates who received the greatest number of votes in the first round may stand. However, the constitution also provides that the group that nominates one of these two candidates may instead nominate an alternative candidate in the second round. If there is only one candidate standing in a presidential election, the electorate is granted the opportunity to either accept or reject the candidate in a referendum.

The president is elected by secret ballot

The president of Austria is elected by popular vote for a term of six years. The president is directly elected by the citizens of the Republic of Austria by secret ballot in a free and fair popular general election. Voting is open to all Austrian citizens over the age of sixteen who have not been convicted of a jail term of more than one year of imprisonment. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the valid votes cast in the first round, then a second ballot occurs in which only the two candidates who received the greatest number of votes in the first round may stand. The constitution also provides that the group that nominates one of these two candidates may instead nominate an alternative candidate in the second round. If there is only one candidate standing in a presidential election, the election takes the form of a referendum.

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