European Union Elections, 9 June 2024

Floods, June 2024  

On 10 June 2024, Austrian meteorological agencies issued severe weather warnings for southern districts. Heavy rains flooded multiple areas and triggered mudslides, destroying several homes (Crisis24 2024). Continuous rainfall and earlier flooding in Germany caused the Danube River to overflow in Linz, Austria’s third-largest city, where its depth reached 6.85 metres by 4 June 2024 (Kirby 2024). The Austrian government halted shipping along the Danube due to the severe flooding (Euronews/AP 2024).  

On 8 June 2024, the Übelbach River in Styria overflowed, damaging homes and cars, and Styria's fire departments responded to 800 distress calls (NL Times 2024). At least 50 civilians in life-threatening situations were rescued in around Styria’s state capital, Graz (IHA News 2024). 

Though northern Austria is naturally prone to flash flooding, the EU’s Copernicus programme finds that climate change has altered rainfall patterns, increasing flash flood risks and worsening impacts (Copernicus n.d.). 

Impact on the electoral process  

Despite the Übelbach River flooding, Austria’s European elections proceeded on 9 June 2024. However, many voters could not reach the polls due to impassable roads (NL Times 2024) – particularly in Deutschfeistritz (north of Graz) and the Hartberg-Fürstenfeld districts.   

Flooding made some polling stations inaccessible. As a result, authorities relocated several, informing residents of the new locations through social media and street signs (IHA News 2024). 

Voter turnout was 56.25 per cent, approximately 3.5% down on the 2019 turnout of 59.77 per cent (International IDEA n.d.).