13 lists compete

Innsbruck votes: Today is the day of decision

Innsbruck is facing one of the most exciting elections of all time. There are 13 lists and just as many mayoral candidates on the ballot paper for today's municipal council and mayoral elections. Will it be a duel between the FPÖ and the Greens for mayor? Or will ex-State Secretary Florian Tursky, ex-ÖVP man Johannes Anzengruber or SPÖ frontwoman Elisabeth Mayr be in the running? A run-off is a certainty.

100,564 eligible voters can cast their ballot, 3681 fewer than at the last ballot in 2018.

"Krone" graphic: All facts and figures on the Innsbruck election

Polling stations close at 4 pm
The voter turnout also promises to be particularly exciting. This was last at a record low since 1945 of 50.38 percent. Attention must be paid to the closing time: this year it has been brought forward to 4 pm - so the polling stations are open an hour shorter than last time.

Provisional final result only in the evening
Voting took place in a total of 153 polling stations, divided into 43 districts. The provisional final result, including postal votes, should be available between 6 and 7 pm. There will be no projections before then. The preferential voting results should then be available on Monday.

Who will make it to the run-off?
The battle for a place in the probable mayoral run-off will be dramatic. The hot contenders are Green Party city leader Georg Willi, FPÖ candidate Markus Lassenberger, ÖVP former state secretary Florian Tursky and ÖVP "splitter" Johannes Anzengruber.

Political observers only give SPÖ top candidate Elisabeth Mayr an outsider's chance.

Can Willi defend his mayoral seat?
In the last municipal council and mayoral elections six years ago, the Greens and in particular their top candidate landed a major coup: Willi and his Greens came first with a clear 24.16% and won the mayoral run-off against his rival, incumbent Christine Oppitz-Plörer (Für Innsbruck). This made Willi the first Green mayor of a provincial capital.

Four-percent hurdle for the first time in Innsbruck elections
All 13 top candidates are also standing in the direct mayoral election. It will be difficult for smaller parties or lists to enter the municipal council. Keyword: four percent hurdle. This has been introduced for the first time this year.