Federal President: 1.4 million inhabitants are not allowed to vote
Special communities
However, the highest values are outside of the metropolitan areas. These communities are special cases: the enclaves of Jungholz (Tyrol) with 66 percent and Mittelberg (Vorarlberg) with 51 percent non-voting residents can only be reached from Austria via German territory. Many Slovak families have settled in Kittsee (Burgenland) and Wolfsthal (Lower Austria) because of their proximity to Bratislava. However, the proportion is consistently high in the Vorarlberg Rhine Valley.
exclusion of co-determination
The number of eligible voters, on the other hand, has stagnated. In the 2019 National Council election, 4,000 fewer people were entitled to vote than in 2017 or in the 2016 federal presidential election.
For the political scientist Filzmaier, the permanent exclusion of broader sections of the population could have negative consequences. Because even people without citizenship are affected by the decisions of the political system, but without being allowed to have a say. As a result, potentially undesirable outlets for dissatisfaction could form. “Since people are affected by the decisions of the political system in their place of residence, it could also be linked to their place of residence instead of citizenship,” says Filzmaier. Of course only after a long period of residence.
ÖVP, FPÖ against Van der Bellen’s proposal
However, there is no sign of a majority in favor of reform. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen had already gotten a rebuff from the ÖVP and FPÖ in May with the proposal to make naturalization easier. Filzmaier also advocates conducting the electoral law discussion outside of the election campaign in order to avoid emotionalization – especially since there are valid pro and contra arguments. “Within the rules of the game, we constantly make electoral decisions, which you can see in one way or another, and both sides are democrats,” emphasizes the political scientist, referring to recent changes in the voting age and voting rights for second homes. “My most urgent recommendation is to have this suffrage debate as far away from any election as possible.”