Polls open for snap election in Austria

Polling booths opened in Austria on Sunday for a snap election in which 6.4 million eligible voters will decide on their next lower house of the parliament.

Former Austrian chancellor and top candidate of the Austrian People's Party, OEVP, Sebastian Kurz arrives for a closing rally ahead of federal elections in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. [Photo: IC/AP/Matthias Schrader]

Over 10,000 polling locations are available. In the election, 183 delegates will be chosen to represent eight parties in the parliament.

This election has adopted absentee ballots. As an alternative to voting in person, absentee voting has recently become popular among Austrians.

The first results will be made public at the close of polls Sunday evening. The final result is expected to be published on Thursday evening.

Former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is the strong favorite to resume his former role, with his center-right People's Party garnering about 35 percent support in recent opinion polls, well ahead of other parties.