The compulsory merged communes and voivodeships are those that the Storting decided to merge in 2017. This happened despite at least one of the commune councils or voivodship councils involved having decided that they did not want to merge. This applies to ten communes and provinces.

The municipal and county councils must decide if they want to send a split request to the ministry. The application deadline is March 1, 2022.

- Before the communes and poviat communes send the application, they must, inter alia, explore what the split will mean for the inhabitants and the development of society. Well-studied applications are an important basis when the government is to facilitate the ministerial decision to divide municipalities, and the Storting is to adopt changes in the division of districts, says Gram.

For the new municipalities and voivodeships to come into force, the ministry must receive applications by March 1, 2022. The earliest possible and the best time for changes to come into force is January 1, 2024. We then ensure that political parties have a good and predictable nomination process. Also the possibility of electing new municipal and provincial councils in the local elections in autumn 2023.

- The division requires a lot of administrative and political preparation, both in communes, provinces and on the part of the state. Although our planned time is tight, there will be enough time for the necessary preparations before the split decision can take effect. The timetable will also ensure the safe conduct of the elections in 2023, says Gram.

It is not clear what costs will be incurred by communes and poviats in connection with the implementation of the division itself

The communes and poviat communes have to consider for themselves whether and how the inhabitants should be heard about the division. They can receive subsidies from the ministry for both reports and citizens' hearings.

It is not clear what costs will be incurred by communes and poviats in connection with the implementation of the division itself. The Act on the Division does not contain provisions on financial compensation for communes and provinces that are divided into new units. For any additional costs related to the solution, the government will make a financial contribution in an agreed and appropriate manner.