Greater Graz (National Council electoral district) explained

Greater Graz (de|Graz und Umgebung), also known as Electoral District 6A (de|Wahlkreis 6A), is one of the 39 multi-member regional electoral districts of the National Council, the lower house of the Austrian Parliament, the national legislature of Austria. The electoral district was established in 2012 following the re-organisation of the regional electoral districts in Styria to reflect the new administrative district structure and came into being at the following legislative election in 2013. It consists of the city of Graz and the district of Greater Graz in the state of Styria. The electoral district currently elects nine of the 183 members of the National Council using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2019 legislative election the constituency had 317,873 registered electors.

History

Greater Graz was established in 2012 following the re-organisation of the regional electoral districts in Styria to reflect the new administrative district structure.^[4] It consisted of the city of Graz and the district of Greater Graz in the state of Styria.^[5] The district was initially allocated eight seats in April 2013.^[6] Electoral regulations require the allocation of seats amongst the electoral districts to be recalculated following each national census and in June 2013 the number of seats allocated to Greater Graz was increased to nine based on the population as at the 2011 national census.^[7]

Electoral system

Greater Graz currently elects nine of the 183 members of the National Council using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system.^{[8] [9] [10]} The allocation of seats is carried out in three stages.^[11] In the first stage, seats are allocated to parties (lists) at the regional level using a state-wide Hare quota (German: wahlzahl) (valid votes in the state divided by the number of seats in the state).^{[12] [13]} In the second stage, seats are allocated to parties at the state/provincial level using the state-wide Hare quota (any seats won by the party at the regional stage are subtracted from the party's state seats).^{[12] [13]} In the third and final stage, seats are allocated to parties at the federal/national level using the D'Hondt method (any seats won by the party at the regional and state stages are subtracted from the party's federal seats).^{[12] [13]} Only parties that reach the 4% national threshold, or have won a seat at the regional stage, compete for seats at the state and federal stages.^{[12] [13]}

Electors may cast one preferential vote for individual candidates at the regional, state and federal levels.^[13] Split-ticket voting (panachage), or voting for more than one candidate at each level, is not permitted and will result in the ballot paper being invalidated.^{[13] [14]} At the regional level, candidates must receive preferential votes amounting to at least 14% of the valid votes cast for their party to over-ride the order of the party list (10% and 7% respectively for the state and federal levels).^[14]

Election results

Summary

Election	valign=bottom colspan=3	Communists KPÖ+ / KPÖ !	valign=bottom colspan=3	Social Democrats SPÖ !	valign=bottom colspan=3	Greens GRÜNE !	valign=bottom colspan=3	NEOS NEOS !	valign=bottom colspan=3	People's ÖVP !	valign=bottom colspan=3	Freedom FPÖ
colspan=3	colspan=3	colspan=3	colspan=3	colspan=3	colspan=3
Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats
	4,157	1.76%	0	39,701	16.82%	1	51,718	21.91%	1	23,219	9.84%	0	76,008	32.20%	2	34,487	14.61%	1
	4,859	1.95%	0	64,789	26.02%	2	12,290	4.93%	0	18,569	7.46%	0	71,375	28.66%	2	59,011	23.70%	2
	6,040	2.68%	0	45,054	19.99%	1	39,800	17.66%	1	13,409	5.95%	0	39,887	17.70%	1	49,486	21.96%	1

Detailed

2019

Results of the 2019 legislative election held on 29 September 2019:^{[15] [16]}

Party	Votes per district			align=center valign=bottom rowspan=2 width="50"	Total Votes !	align=center valign=bottom rowspan=2 width="50"	% !	align=center valign=bottom rowspan=2	Seats
align=center valign=bottom width="50"	Graz City !	align=center valign=bottom width="50"	Greater Graz !	align=center valign=bottom width="50"	Voting card
		ÖVP	40,705	34,853	450	76,008	32.20%	2
		GRÜNE	38,580	12,407	731	51,718	21.91%	1
		SPÖ	23,252	16,221	228	39,701	16.82%	1
		FPÖ	16,921	17,392	174	34,487	14.61%	1
	align=left style="white-space: nowrap;"		NEOS	15,782	7,083	354	23,219	9.84%	0
		JETZT	3,936	1,561	78	5,575	2.36%	0
		KPÖ+	3,174	960	23	4,157	1.76%	0
		WANDL	788	373	13	1,174	0.50%	0
align=left colspan=3	Valid Votes	143,138	90,850	2,051	236,039	100.00%	5
align=left colspan=3	Rejected Votes	957	791	9	1,757	0.74%
align=left colspan=3	Total Polled	144,095	91,641	2,060	237,796	74.81%
align=left colspan=3	Registered Electors	196,811	121,062		317,873
align=left colspan=3	Turnout	73.21%	75.70%		74.81%

The following candidates were elected:^{[17] [18]}

• Personal mandates - Werner Kogler (GRÜNE), 12,991 votes.
• Party mandates - Juliane Bogner-Strauß (ÖVP), 5,274 votes; Ernst Gödl (ÖVP), 5,670 votes; Axel Kassegger (FPÖ), 634 votes; and Verena Nussbaum (SPÖ), 1,733 votes.

Substitutions:

• Juliane Bogner-Strauß (ÖVP) resigned on 18 December 2019 and was replaced by Martina Kaufmann (ÖVP).^[19]
• Werner Kogler (GRÜNE) resigned on 7 January 2020 and was replaced by Heike Grebien (GRÜNE) on 9 January 2020.^[19]
• Martina Kaufmann (ÖVP) was reassigned to the Styria seat vacated by Karl Schmidhofer and was replaced by Kurt Egger (ÖVP) in Greater Graz on 1 October 2021.^[20]

2017

Results of the 2017 legislative election held on 15 October 2017:^{[21] [22]}

Party	Votes per district			align=center valign=bottom rowspan=2 width="50"	Total Votes !	align=center valign=bottom rowspan=2 width="50"	% !	align=center valign=bottom rowspan=2	Seats
align=center valign=bottom width="50"	Graz City !	align=center valign=bottom width="50"	Greater Graz !	align=center valign=bottom width="50"	Voting card
		ÖVP	41,050	29,777	548	71,375	28.66%	2
		SPÖ	41,402	22,824	563	64,789	26.02%	2
		FPÖ	29,267	29,497	247	59,011	23.70%	2
	align=left style="white-space: nowrap;"		NEOS	12,958	5,281	330	18,569	7.46%	0
		PILZ	11,041	3,874	204	15,119	6.07%	0
		GRÜNE	9,467	2,649	174	12,290	4.93%	0
		KPÖ	3,952	865	42	4,859	1.95%	0
		GILT	1,440	889	24	2,353	0.94%	0
		FLÖ	184	173	1	358	0.14%	0
	The Whites	WEIßE	178	132	5	315	0.13%	0
align=left colspan=3	Valid Votes	150,939	95,961	2,138	249,038	100.00%	6
align=left colspan=3	Rejected Votes	826	656	6	1,488	0.59%
align=left colspan=3	Total Polled	151,765	96,617	2,144	250,526	78.86%
align=left colspan=3	Registered Electors	197,958	119,731		317,689
align=left colspan=3	Turnout	76.67%	80.70%		78.86%

The following candidates were elected:^{[23] [24]}

• Party mandates - Ernst Gödl (ÖVP), 7,177 votes; Karin Greiner (SPÖ), 832 votes; Axel Kassegger (FPÖ), 1,351 votes; Martina Kaufmann (ÖVP), 3,393 votes; Günther Kumpitsch (FPÖ), 818 votes; and Verena Nussbaum (SPÖ), 2,542 votes.

2013

Results of the 2013 legislative election held on 29 September 2013:^{[25] [26]}

Party	Votes per district			align=center valign=bottom rowspan=2 width="50"	Total Votes !	align=center valign=bottom rowspan=2 width="50"	% !	align=center valign=bottom rowspan=2	Seats
align=center valign=bottom width="50"	Graz City !	align=center valign=bottom width="50"	Greater Graz !	align=center valign=bottom width="50"	Voting card
		FPÖ	26,293	23,027	166	49,486	21.96%	1
		SPÖ	25,242	19,595	217	45,054	19.99%	1
		ÖVP	23,222	16,340	325	39,887	17.70%	1
	align=left style="white-space: nowrap;"		GRÜNE	29,574	9,691	535	39,800	17.66%	1
		FRANK	9,895	9,326	84	19,305	8.57%	0
		NEOS	9,568	3,656	185	13,409	5.95%	0
		BZÖ	5,172	3,568	71	8,811	3.91%	0
		KPÖ	4,627	1,389	24	6,040	2.68%	0
		PIRAT	2,186	718	36	2,940	1.30%	0
		CPÖ	339	295	0	634	0.28%	0
align=left colspan=3	Valid Votes	136,118	87,605	1,643	225,366	100.00%	4
align=left colspan=3	Rejected Votes	1,570	1,136	21	2,727	1.20%
align=left colspan=3	Total Polled	137,688	88,741	1,664	228,093	72.80%
align=left colspan=3	Registered Electors	196,557	116,758		313,315
align=left colspan=3	Turnout	70.05%	76.00%		72.80%

The following candidates were elected:^{[27] [28]}

• Personal mandates - Gerald Klug (SPÖ), 6,711 votes.
• Party mandates - Mario Kunasek (FPÖ), 3,618 votes; Bernd Schönegger (ÖVP), 1,227 votes; and Judith Schwentner (GRÜNE), 1,985 votes.

Substitutions:

• Gerald Klug (SPÖ) resigned on 16 December 2013 and was replaced by Michael Ehmann (SPÖ) on 17 December 2013.^[29]
• Mario Kunasek (FPÖ) resigned on 15 June 2015 and was replaced by Günther Kumpitsch (FPÖ) on 16 June 2015.^[30]
• Michael Ehmann (SPÖ) resigned on 18 May 2016 and was replaced by Gerald Klug (SPÖ) on 19 May 2016.^[31]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Bevölkerung zu Jahresbeginn nach Politischen Bezirken bzw. Wiener Gemeindebezirken seit 2002 . . 9 July 2024 . Vienna, Austria . de.
2. Web site: Stadtgebiet nach Nutzungsklassen und Gemeindebezirken . . 9 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240625151846/https://www.wien.gv.at/statistik/ogd/jahrbuch/stadtraum/tab_1.1.2_stadtgebiet_.csv . 25 June 2024 . Vienna, Austria . de.
3. Web site: Nationalrat: Abgeordnete zum Nationalrat . . 28 August 2024 . Vienna, Austria . de.
4. 106. Bundesgesetz, mit dem die Nationalrats-Wahlordnung 1992 sowie das Volksbefragungsgesetz 1989 geändert werden (Wahlrechtsanpassungsgesetz 2012) . . 13 December 2012 . 2012 . 1 . 28 August 2024 . Vienna, Austria . de . Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes.
5. 106. Bundesgesetz, mit dem die Nationalrats-Wahlordnung 1992 sowie das Volksbefragungsgesetz 1989 geändert werden (Wahlrechtsanpassungsgesetz 2012) . . 13 December 2012 . 2012 . 2 . 28 August 2024 . Vienna, Austria . de . Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes.
6. 99. Kundmachung der Bundesministerin für Inneres über die Zahl der auf jeden Wahlkreis entfallenden Mandate für die Wahl des Nationalrates gemäß § 127 Z 5 der Nationalrats-Wahlordnung 1992 – NRWO . . 18 April 2013 . 2013 . 2 . 28 August 2024 . Vienna, Austria . de . Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes.
7. 187. Kundmachung der Bundesministerin für Inneres über die Zahl der auf jeden Wahlkreis entfallenden Mandate für die Wahl des Nationalrates gemäß § 5 Abs. 1 der Nationalrats-Wahlordnung 1992 – NRWO . . 28 June 2013 . 2013 . 2 . 28 August 2024 . Vienna, Austria . de . https://web.archive.org/web/20240718190902/https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2013_II_187/BGBLA_2013_II_187.pdfsig . 18 July 2024 . Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes.
8. Web site: Nationalratswahlen: Wahlkreiseinteilung . . 10 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240421071143/https://www.bmi.gv.at/412/Nationalratswahlen/Wahlkreiseinteilung.aspx . 21 April 2024 . Vienna, Austria . de.
9. Web site: Austrian National Council 2019 General . Election Guide . . 10 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240228065006/https://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/3350/ . 28 February 2024 . Arlington, U.S.A..
10. Web site: Electoral Assistance: ElecData, Compendium of Electoral Data - Austria . . 10 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403205755/https://www.coe.int/en/web/electoral-assistance/elecdata-austria . 3 April 2024 . Strasbourg, France.
11. Book: Müller . Wolfgang C. . Gallagher . Michael . Mitchell . Paul . The Politics of Electoral Systems . 15 September 2005 . . Oxford, UK . 9780191603280 . 396–416 . 10 July 2024 . Austria: A Complex Electoral System with Subtle Effects.
12. Web site: Nationalratswahlen: Überblick . . 10 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231231143451/https://www.bmi.gv.at/412/Nationalratswahlen/ . 31 December 2023 . Vienna, Austria . de.
13. Web site: Reimink . Elwin . Electoral System Change in Europe since 1945: Austria . Electoral System Change in Europe since 1945 . Jean-Benoit Pilet and Alan Renwick . 10 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226131754/https://www.electoralsystemchanges.eu/Files/media/MEDIA_764/FILE/Austria_summary.pdf . 26 February 2024 . 7–8.
14. Web site: Nationalratswahlen: Vorzugsstimmen . . 10 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119191451/https://www.bmi.gv.at/412/Nationalratswahlen/Vorzugsstimmen.aspx . 19 January 2024 . Vienna, Austria . de.
15. Web site: Nationalratswahl 2019: Ergebnisse auf Gemeindeebene und Landeswahlkreiseben . . 7 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211115124851/https://www.bmi.gv.at/412/Nationalratswahlen/Nationalratswahl_2019/files/endgultiges_Gesamtergebnis_NRW19_16102019.xlsx . 15 November 2021 . Vienna, Austria . de.
16. Web site: Nationalratswahl 2019: Steiermark - Regionalwahlkreis Graz und Umgebung . Bundeswahlen . . 28 August 2024 . Vienna, Austria . de.
17. Web site: Nationalratswahl 2019: Broschüre Landeswahlvorschläge . . 13 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240225011649/https://www.bmi.gv.at/412/Nationalratswahlen/Nationalratswahl_2019/files/NRW19_Vorzugsstimmen_Landes_Regionalparteiliste_16102019.pdf . 25 February 2024 . Vienna, Austria . 41–42 . de.
18. Web site: Nationalrat seit 1920: Alle Abgeordneten zum Nationalrat seit 1920 . . 28 August 2024 . Vienna, Austria . de.
19. XXVII. Gesetzgebungsperiode: 8. Sitzung des Nationalrates der Republik Österreich - Freitag, 10. Jänner 2020 . Stenographisches Protokoll . 10 January 2020 . XXVII . 8 . 33 . 28 August 2024 . . Vienna, Austria . de.
20. XXVII. Gesetzgebungsperiode: 124. Sitzung des Nationalrates der Republik Österreich - Dienstag, 12. Oktober 2021 . Stenographisches Protokoll . 12 October 2021 . XXVII . 124 . 36 . 28 August 2024 . . Vienna, Austria . de.
21. Web site: Nationalratswahl 2017: Ergebnisse auf Gemeindeebene, Landeswahlkreisebene und Ergebnisse der Wahlkarten . . 8 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206233208/https://www.bmi.gv.at/412/Nationalratswahlen/Nationalratswahl_2017/files/NRW17_endgueltiges_Gesamtergebnis.xlsx . 6 December 2021 . Vienna, Austria . de.
22. Web site: Nationalratswahl 2017: Steiermark - Regionalwahlkreis Graz und Umgebung . Bundeswahlen . . 28 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220812180523/https://www.bundeswahlen.gv.at/2017/6A.html . 12 August 2022 . Vienna, Austria . de.
23. Web site: Nationalratswahl 2017: Landeswahlvorschläge - Landesparteilisten - Regionalparteilisten einschließlich erreichter Vorzugsstimmen . . 9 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230425122718/https://www.bmi.gv.at/412/Nationalratswahlen/Nationalratswahl_2017/files/Vorzugsstimmen_Land_Regional.pdf . 25 April 2023 . Vienna, Austria . 51 . de.
24. Web site: Nationalrat seit 1920: Alle Abgeordneten zum Nationalrat seit 1920 . . 28 August 2024 . Vienna, Austria . de.
25. Web site: Nationalratswahl 2013: Ergebnisse auf Gemeindeebene, Landeswahlkreisebene und Ergebnisse der Wahlkarten . . 8 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210129221519/https://www.bmi.gv.at/412/Nationalratswahlen/Nationalratswahl_2013/files/NRW13_endgueltiges_Gesamtergebnis.xlsx . 29 January 2021 . Vienna, Austria . de.
26. Web site: Nationalratswahl 2013: Steiermark - Regionalwahlkreis Graz und Umgebung . Bundeswahlen . . 28 August 2024 . Vienna, Austria . de.
27. Web site: Nationalratswahl 2013: Landeswahlvorschläge - Landesparteilisten - Regionalparteilisten einschließlich erreichter Vorzugsstimmen . . 13 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205082043/https://www.bmi.gv.at/412/Nationalratswahlen/Nationalratswahl_2013/files/Land_VZ_Broschuere_gesamt.pdf . 5 December 2023 . Vienna, Austria . 60–61 . de.
28. Web site: Nationalrat seit 1920: Alle Abgeordneten zum Nationalrat seit 1920 . . 28 August 2024 . Vienna, Austria . de.
29. XXV. Gesetzgebungsperiode: 7. Sitzung des Nationalrates der Republik Österreichh - Dienstag, 17. Dezember 2013 . Stenographisches Protokoll . 17 December 2013 . XXV . 7 . 17 . 28 August 2024 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715153728/https://www.parlament.gv.at/dokument/XXV/NRSITZ/7/fname_339842.pdf . 15 July 2024 . Vienna, Austria . de.
30. XXV. Gesetzgebungsperiode: 79. Sitzung des Nationalrates der Republik Österreichh - Mittwoch, 17. Juni 2015 . Stenographisches Protokoll . 17 June 2015 . XXV . 79 . 24 . 28 August 2024 . . Vienna, Austria . de.
31. XXV. Gesetzgebungsperiode: 130. Sitzung des Nationalrates der Republik Österreichh - Donnerstag, 19., und Freitag, 20. Mai 2016 . Stenographisches Protokoll . 20 May 2016 . XXV . 130 . 17 . 28 August 2024 . . Vienna, Austria . de.