Voter turnout in Hungary parliamentary election reaches record levels UPDATED

Hungary’s parliamentary elections maintain record voter turnout momentum as midday participation reaches 54.14%, National Election Office announced.

The figure is 14 percentage points higher than at the same point during the 2022 elections.

14:58

Turnout in the parliamentary elections in Hungary has reached record levels compared to previous years, standing at 37.98% by 11:00 local time (13:00 Baku time), according to the country’s National Election Office.

The authority reported that 16.89% of eligible voters had participated by 09:00, with the figure more than doubling within two hours.

Local media noted that this is significantly higher than in the 2022 parliamentary elections, when overall turnout eventually reached around 70%. Analysts expect participation to rise further amid a highly polarised political environment.

The election campaign has been marked by sharp divisions between the government and the opposition, particularly over the conflict in Ukraine, relations with the European Union, and cooperation with Russia. Both sides have stressed the importance of voter mobilisation, each claiming they are capable of winning in a high-turnout scenario.

Hungary does not have a minimum turnout threshold, meaning the election will be valid regardless of participation levels.

12:24

A sharp increase in voter participation has been recorded in the opening hours of parliamentary elections in Hungary, according to foreign media.

Polling stations opened at 6:00 a.m. on April 12. By 7:00 a.m., 260,556 citizens (3.46%) had voted, an increase of 120,889 compared to the same period in the 2022 elections, when 139,667 voters (1.82%) had participated.

The figure also surpassed the 2002 level, when around 2% voted in the first hour.

By 9:00 a.m. local time, turnout in the parliamentary elections stood at 16.89%, compared to 10.31% in 2022.

The rise in participation is particularly notable given a decline in the number of registered voters over the past four years, which has fallen by 166,115 due to Hungary’s population decrease.

By Jeyhun Aghazada