Start of ÖH elections

As always, voter turnout is a big unknown: In 2023, it was around 21 percent, and in the 2021 election, held in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, it was just under 16 percent. Turnout rates of around 25 percent are typical for student union elections. This year, turnout is unlikely to increase significantly—at least considering the number of ballot papers requested. This time, there were around 4,500, compared to 6,000 in the last election in 2023.

Possible explanations for the traditionally low voter turnout include the fact that the ÖH's activities are of little importance to students' own studies, that many factions are barely distinguishable, or that, from the students' perspective, they focus too little or too much on general political issues. In addition, the ÖH primarily represents interests and has little autonomy. Issues such as tuition fees or access restrictions are not within the ÖH's remit. Even compulsory membership and the amount of the ÖH dues are regulated by the Student Union Act, which can only be amended by the National Council.

Friday and Saturday as early voting days

Universities offering part-time or dual degree programs can offer early voting days this Friday or tomorrow, Saturday. This particularly applies to some universities of applied sciences – this way, students who are only at the university for block courses on the weekend can also participate.

Elections take place on three levels, or rather, with three ballots: All students participate in the federal representation, the Austria-wide student parliament with 55 seats. In addition, the respective university representation and the respective student representation participate. In the federal and university representation elections, lists, i.e., student parties, are available for election – these two levels can be elected either in person or by ballot. In the student representative election, however, individual candidates are listed on the ballot; postal voting is not possible.

Close results at the top

The strongest faction in the ÖH federal representation is currently the Association of Socialist Students (VSStÖ) with 26.5 percent or 15 seats, followed by the ÖVP-affiliated Action Group (AG; 21.1 percent, 12 seats) and the Green and Alternative Students (GRAS; 18.6 percent, 11 seats). The Young Liberal Students (JUNOS) recently received nine percent (five seats), the non-partisan student council lists received 8.3 percent (four seats), the KSV-LiLi received 5.2 percent (three seats), the KSV-Communist Youth (KSV-KJÖ) received 4.5 percent (two seats), "Who the F*ck is Herbert?" received four percent (two seats), and the RFS received 2.8 percent (one seat). In addition to these nine lists, the Revolutionary Communist Party (RKP) and the "Fölik" list, which originally emerged from a split mainly of VSStÖ representatives at the University of Applied Sciences Campus Vienna, are also running for the first time this year.

Due to the large number of lists and close results at the top, the ÖH presidency is usually not decided on election night, but rather during the subsequent coalition negotiations. Currently, a coalition of VSStÖ, GRAS, and KSV-LiLi leads the ÖH. The term of office of the new federal representation begins on July 1.