The far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) is optimistic it can beat the governing conservatives in Sunday's parliamentary elections that could see the anti-immigrant party gain a historic victory.
"Overall, I have a good feeling about today," FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl said after casting his vote at a retirement home in his home district near Vienna. Kickl, who had been out jogging before casting his ballot, appeared demonstratively relaxed and self-confident.
If the far-right wins, it would be the first time that the party has done so at a National Council election, and also mark a major comeback after being booted from government during a 2019 scandal.
Earlier on Sunday, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, leader of the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), was one of the first of the leading candidates to cast his vote, also showing optimism and predicting "strong electoral movement" in favour of the ÖVP.
The first projections are expected shortly after polls close at 5 pm (1500 GMT). If predictions are correct, Austria's far right is poised to win the Austrian National Council vote with 27% support, after long leading in the polls.
However, the latest polls put the conservative ÖVP led by Nehammer close behind at 25%. Predictions suggest the Social Democrats (SPÖ) are likely to gain around 21% of the vote.
The Greens, currently governing in a coalition with the conservatives, look set to win 9%, as does the liberal NEOS party.
Nearly 6.4 million citizens in Austria are eligible to elect a new parliament, with what happens after the vote unclear.
Immigration has been a central topic of the campaign. The far right intends to crack down on immigration with full force if it takes over government, and also accelerate the deportation of migrants to their home countries.
In terms of forming a government, the far right and conservatives have not ruled out working together, but Nehammer is insisting that if they form a coalition, it should not involve Kickl.
A further possibility could be a three-way coalition between the conservatives, Social Democrats and NEOS.
The voter turnout in 2019 was around 76%. Pollsters expect a higher turnout this time. One indication of this could be the significant increase in the number of postal voters.
Sunday also looks set to mark the Austrian far-right's biggest victory since the so-called Ibiza affair, which triggered investigations into ÖVP politicians for allegedly falsifying polls and questionable media collaborations.
In a secret video recording taken in Ibiza in 2019, the then FPÖ leader promised a supposed oligarch's niece future state contracts in exchange for support.
But even if the FPÖ wins, it is questionable whether party leader Kickl will become chancellor. So far, all other parties have refused to co-operate with the party.
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