Voters in Austria's capital headed to polling stations Sunday to elect members of Vienna's State Parliament (Landtag), a 100-seat legislative body. Preliminary projections indicate the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) will maintain its dominant position with approximately 38% of the vote, while popular Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig, who heads the party's local branch, is expected to secure at least 60% personal approval.

Key Election Dynamics:

• Security, education, social welfare, and budget deficits dominated the campaign

• Anti-immigration rhetoric from right-wing parties gained traction

• The far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) is projected to triple its seats (≈21%), becoming the second-largest force

• The Greens are expected to maintain third position (11.5-12%)

• The conservative People's Party (ÖVP), leading Austria's federal coalition, trails at 9.3-11%

• The neoliberal NEOS may capture ≈10.9%

• Communists hope to cross the 4% parliamentary threshold

Voting Logistics:

• 1.4 million eligible voters in Vienna

• 284,956 mail-in ballots processed (for travelers, ill residents, etc.)

• Semi-official projections expected by 5 PM local time

• Final results to be released by the Interior Ministry at 6 PM

Political Context:
The election occurs amid rising polarization, with the FPÖ's projected surge reflecting growing nationalist sentiment. Mayor Ludwig's strong personal numbers suggest voters distinguish between local leadership and national trends. The SPÖ's continued dominance would mark its uninterrupted governance of Vienna since 1945.