VIENNA, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Austrian electoral authorities have issued over 1 million voting cards, a record number, ahead of Sunday's federal election, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.
The ministry also noted that over 61,000 of the cards were sent to Austrian nationals living abroad.
Voters who are unable to vote at a polling booth can send in their votes via post. The mailed votes are expected to make up about a fifth of all votes cast, which will be counted until the day after the election.
It also remains to be seen how many people will use their voting cards, since voting is not compulsory in Austria.
A recent survey of eligible voters published by the Kurier newspaper found that 77 percent of respondents said they are "very certain" they will vote in the election, with a further 11 percent being "somewhat certain."
Former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is the strong favourite to resume his former role, with his centre-right People's Party gathering about 35 percent of the vote in recent polls, well ahead of the other parties.
