Austrian official disappointed over "sloppy" presidential election vote count

A senior Austrian official on Tuesday said he is "extremely disappointed" over revelations that there were irregularities in the vote counting process for the recent Austrian presidential election, Austria Press Agency reported.

In comments to the media prior to cabinet, Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said the findings by the Constitutional Court, particularly that postal votes had in several electoral districts been opened too early and often not in the presence of relevant electoral officials, were evidence the vote count had been carried out in a "sloppy" manner.

In addition, the confirmation that jurists present had simply given blank signatures (without due care) to election protocols was "shameful," he said.

The extent to which the irregularities had occurred was also "intolerable," Sobotka said.

He argued that should the existing rules for correct vote-counting procedure have been either difficult or impossible to follow, it should have been brought to the attention of relevant authorities.

The minister called for reforms to the postal vote system, which he said must bring "workable" solutions to the problems present, particularly for electoral authorities.

He further noted that it is the government that is responsible for creating this legislation, and that he has already asked political party representatives to start considering practical solutions. Enditem