September 11, 2023. Part of the community with the possibility of casting votes on September 10. This is an important event in Norway, where residents elect their representatives in the municipal and county councils. Find out who can vote and how the Norwegian electoral system works.
How will you receive your Voting Card (Valgkort)?
The Electoral Office (Valgdirektoratet) will send the electoral card in early August. This card certifies the resident's rights to participate in elections. You will receive information about the place and date of voting. Following to other countries, in Norway card electoral system is not applied to the voter's identity. You do not need to take it to the polling station when voting.
You can receive the electoral card in your mailbox or on the Altinn platform. If a voter has previously objected to receiving a digital notice or has not used an electronic ID in the last 18 months, they will receive a paper ballot.
Local government elections in Norway are important events in the country's democratic life. Verification eligibility includes Norwegian standards, persons from other Nordic countries who meet the verification criteria in Norway. The voting card (valgkort) is sent by the Electoral Office and certifies a resident's right to vote. It's a good idea to contribute to voting by reading the opt-in application and making sure you have the appropriate ID with you to vote.
Voting rights and number of people
Who can vote in elections to commune and poviat councils?
To vote, you must have the right to vote and be on the census in your municipality.
Who has the right to vote?
- Norwegian citizens who turned 18 before the end of 2023 and who are or were registered in the population register as residents of Norway.
- Citizens of Denmark, Finland, Iceland or Sweden who turned 18 before the end of 2023 and by 30 June 2023 at the latest are registered in the population register as residents of Norway.
- Persons who are not Norwegian citizens but turned 18 before the end of 2023 and were registered in the population register as living in Norway for the last time three years before election day.
Diplomatic or consular employees and their household members have the right to vote even if they do not meet the residence criteria.
Are you on the census?
The census is an overview of who has the right to vote in the municipality. If you live in Norway, you will automatically be included in the census of the municipality where you are registered as a resident in the national register on 30 June 2023.
You can vote early in any municipality, but if you want to vote on election day, you must do so at a polling station in the municipality where you are registered.
Do you live abroad?
If you live abroad but have been registered as resident in Norway within the last 10 years, you will automatically be included in the census of the municipality where you were registered as resident when you moved from Norway.
If you have not been registered as a resident in Norway in the last 10 years, you must apply for a census.
Voters with a strictly confidential address
People with a strictly confidential address are not included in the regular census to which the municipality has access, but municipalities receive a special additional census with a list of people having a strictly confidential address. Voters in debt receive a separate letter from Kripos regarding the voting process.
Want to check if you are registered correctly?
Contact your municipality. All municipalities in Norway are required to make the census publicly available so that you can check your own information and file a complaint if there are errors in the census.
