VOTE FRAUD: Austrian election POSTPONED over dodgy envelopes as far-right heads polls
AUSTRIA’S hotly contested presidential election re-run could be postponed after an embarrassing technical gaffe involving glue.
The Freedom Party's Norbert Hofer will hope for a win in Austria's election re-run
The second vote was called after the initial election result in May was scrapped by Austria’s highest court due to allegations of serious "voter fraud".
But the controversy surrounding Austria's election continues to rage on, as the re-run looks set to be delayed because the glue on postal vote envelopes is not sticking, making the letters invalid.
The Eurosceptic Freedom Party claimed their right wing candidate, Norbert Hofer, lost to former Greens leader Alexander Van der Bellen due to widespread vote mis-counting, prompting a court to order an election re-run.
Independent candidate Alexander Van der Bellen won the initial election by just 31,000
Mr Hofer received 51.9% of the initial result, not counting absentee votes - a total that was described as a “political earthquake” - but the absentee votes, like postal votes in the British election system, were added up incorrectly, handing the victory to Mr Van der Bellen.
The independent candidate, Mr Van der Bellen, was then adjudged to have beaten Mr Hofer by a mere 31,000 votes.
Norbert Hofer's Freedom Party appealed against the election result
The country’s Constitutional Court upheld the Freedom Party’s appeal, meaning new elections are to be held on October 2.
But now it will likely be pushed back due to glue on postal votes not sticking – making them invalid.
The migrant crisis divided the country and, in a major U-turn, the government, who initially backed German chancellor Angela Merkel’s open-door policy, shut Austria’s borders.
While Austria’s president does not hold great authority, they are a symbolic figurehead of the nation.