Elections and democracy
The Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation has the overall responsibility for the conduct of elections and for matters relating to local government and local democracy.
The main features of the Norwegian electoral system
The Norwegian electoral system is based on the principles of direct election and proportional representation in multi-member electoral divisions.
Legal framework
Here you will find the Election Act, the Election regulations and the Election manual.
Election observation
Norway is bound by a number of international documents both to invite and to receive national and international election observers.
Related topics and insights
What's new
Women in Local Politics in Norway
The Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation has developed digital maps in order to visualize and thereby easen oversight of the representation by gender in municipal councils and in other political bodies and positions in Norwegian municipalities.
Regulations for the 2019 local government elections for municipalities and counties that are subject to boundary changes that come into effect January 1st 2020
The Norwegian government has adopted changes to the local government structure, reducing the number of municipalities from 428 to 356 and the number of counties from 19 to 11. The mergers will come into effect January 1st 2020.
Latest news
- Ensuring two independent counts at elections Press release 15/02/2019
- Record number of election observers to Norway Press release 09/09/2017
- Increased security measures for election procedures Press release 01/09/2017
- - Norway supports the Council of Europe's Action Plan for Ukraine News story 07/11/2016
- Prime Minister warns against developments that are weakening democracy News story 07/11/2016
- World Forum for Democracy Speech/statement 07/11/2016
Documents
The Election Act
Act No. 57 of 28 June 2002 relating to parliamentary and local government elections. Last amended: 15 June 2018
Prop. 76 L (2017–2018)
Amendments to the Representation of the People Act (constituencies in parliamentary elections, the right to put up lists at an election, etc.)