Iceland is holding its national parliamentary election today; polling stations are open from 09.00 until 22.00 GMT. In total 227,896 people, over the age of 18, have the right to vote today. Icelandic citizens are automatically registered to vote and do not need to register themselves if they live in the country.
The total number of potential voters today is made up of 114,295 women and 113,601 men. There is a three percent increase (6,566 people) in the number of people able to vote since the last election in 2007. The number of people who turned 18 since 2007 and can therefore vote for the first time is 9,398, or 4.1 percent of the total.
There are six electoral districts in Iceland: Northwest, Northeast, South, Reykjavik North, Reykjavik South and Southwest (some of the largest towns directly in the capital region which are not part of Reykjavik).
Unsure Icelandic citizens can go to their local council’s website to find out where to vote. In Reykjavik there are 14 voting stations with seven polling booths in each.
IceNews will keep you updated with the important election news as it happens.
Photo: mbl.is/Árni
Historic? Why that?
I really doubt about such term.
No matter of the number of votes/seats generated – the result is clear. NONE of the “parties” represent people of Iceland fully enough.
And keeping in mind that many voters select one or other party because it is just better than other (but not because they fully agree with its “program) – the real presentation of people’s will is simply ridiculous.
So unless Iceland get rid of “the oldest parliament” myth and become the first real direct democracy – nothing historic indeed :-(
Iceland should close the circus called Althingi, regardless it is the oldest such thing in the world, and just rely on the presidential republic. No need to vote at all. The same clowns, just new costumes.
I am from IS. and live in US, Vikings are strong and will pull out of this, give them a break. It’s a beautiful country and so are the people. True blood Icelanders always love IS. no matter where they are.I pray for them and hope to moveback, Don’t be so critical b/c they are different than the USA. I love Iceland and its people, all my relatives are there. Lay off, They are so intelligent!
This election is historic because it took a revolution to make it happen,
also because the right wing partys are being held acountable for the mistakes they have made,
the next step is to change the constitution and our whole system.
Alexander, at least we agree in some things, very right about your comment.
Elin R. Alfredsdottir said: “Lay off, They are so intelligent!”
If true, how do you explain the downfall of the Icelandic economy? Surely 20+ years of freemarket theory should have avoided this mess?
There are in my opinion very important elections; Iceland with left parties will go , perhaps, into EU.
This is my hope. My heartly hug to all Icelanders
“Lay off, They are so intelligent!”
Now, Elin, really, it was this kind of arrogance that brought you this crappy kreppa! Face it, Icelanders are not more intelligent than other people. They face the same problems now, even more dire ones. That’s not really a sign of superior intelligence.
Note: Greed always trumps intelligence! And maybe the Vikings are more greedy than others…