Home > 1.3.2.3 Counting procedures/validity of ballots > AUSTRIA - Federal Law on National Council Elections (Regulations on National Council Elections 1992 – NRWO)
 
 
 
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§ 81
 

Invalid ballot papers


(1) A ballot paper is considered invalid if:


1. a ballot paper other than the official one has been used for the casting of a vote or


2. because of a part of the correctly filled out official ballot paper being torn off, it is no longer possible to determine without any doubt which party the respective voter wanted to vote for, or


3. no party and no candidate have been indicated, or


4. two or more parties have been indicated, or


5. a party list has been indicated which contains only a list number but no party name (§ 49, para 5), or 


6. only one candidate has been indicated, who is however not a candidate from the party entered in the same column, or


7. the sign or any other marking made by the voter does not allow an unambiguous decision as to which party he or she wanted to vote for.


(2) Empty ballot paper envelopes count as invalid ballot papers. When a ballot paper envelope contains more than one ballot paper on which different parties have been voted for, they are all to be counted as invalid, if their invalidity is not already established for any other reason.


(3) Words, comments or markings entered on the official ballot paper for any reason other than to indicate a party or a candidate, do not impair the validity of the ballot paper, if they do not lead to one of the reasons for a ballot paper to be considered invalid. Any insertion put into a ballot paper envelope does not impair the validity of the official ballot paper.