An anti-immigration and Eurosceptic candidate is hoping to become the first far-right European head of state since Adolf Hitler in a re-run of the Austrian presidential election.
Norbert Hofer, a member of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe), is competing against the independent economist Alexander Van der Bellen - who is backed by the Green party.
Hofer, a 45-year-old former aeronautical engineer, moved the emphasis from the FPOe's often xenophobic agenda to one highlighting social inequality.
The gun-enthusiast has run with the slogan "unspoilt, honest, good", and won the first round of the presidential election in April with 35 per cent of the vote - knocking out the to government-back candidates.
Relegating the issue of immigration, Hofer's campaign has focused on economic reforms and a call for a more Swiss-style direct democracy.
In May, he lost the presidential election by just 31,000 votes to Mr Van der Bellen - but after FPOe complained, a re-run was organised for Sunday 4th December.
Despite softening his message, Hofer has called for Austria's borders to be "protected" and has warned against the "dangers of the wrong immigration policy".
Speaking to a young Austrian Muslim on a talk show in May, the far-right presidential candidate said Islam "has no place in Austria" as it poses a threat to the country's Judeo-Christian and humanist values.
A Financial Times editorial said of the possibility of Hofer winning: "That a far-right candidate for a party founded partly by Nazis and with a history of anti-Semitism could be so close to power at the heart of Europe is self-evidently troubling."
Voter, Helwig Leibinger told AFP at a Hofer's rally: "We hope that Hofer can ensure that our borders remain closed, that we have controls, that we have security.
"We want a commander-in-chief of the armed forces who can give the right orders.
"There are new parties representing different points of view on the rise... We want to be part of the EU but not to lose our identity."
Since 1945, Austria's president has a largely ceremonial role, but the constitution gives the head of state considerable powers - as yet unused - including to fire the government.
