Carinthia political parties agree to electoral system reforms

Political parties in Carinthia, Austria, have reached an agreement to modernize and simplify the regional electoral system. The reform, which includes rules for state, municipal, and mayoral elections, is expected to be formally decided in early October and will take effect starting with the 2027 municipal elections.

Key changes include an increase in the maximum campaign spending limit. The previous cap of 500,000 euros will be raised to approximately 750,000 euros, with future adjustments tied to the consumer price index to account for inflation.

Administrative updates include the replacement of hourly-based compensation for election assistants with a fixed flat rate of 150 euros. Additionally, the ‘flying election commission’—which visited voters unable to reach polling stations—will be abolished in favor of expanded postal voting options, as officials noted a decline in the use of mobile commissions due to the prevalence of mail-in ballots.