Elections in Iceland

Alþingi elections normally take place every four years, although an early election can follow the dissolution of Alþingi. Iceland is divided into six constituencies. Voters choose one party list, and the 63 seats consist of 54 constituency seats and 9 equalisation seats. Equalisation seats are allocated only to parties that receive at least 5% of the national vote. A voter may change the order of candidates or delete names on the selected list, but may not mark more than one list. Candidate lists generally contain at least as many candidates as the constituency has seats and no more than twice that number. Candidates need voting eligibility and full civil rights; Supreme Court justices cannot stand as candidates. Presidential elections are held every four years, normally on the first Saturday in June, with a possible change when the date conflicts with Pentecost. The president is elected directly by secret ballot, and the candidate with the most votes wins. If only one candidate stands, no vote is held. A presidential candidate must be an Icelandic citizen aged at least 35 and submit between 1,500 and 3,000 endorsements distributed proportionally across Iceland's four quarters. Municipal elections normally take place every four years on the third Saturday in May, except when that date falls immediately before Whitsun. The term lasts four years. Municipalities use either restricted proportional list elections or unrestricted elections without party lists. If only one list is submitted, the municipality may be elected without a ballot. Candidate filings close at 12:00 noon, 36 days before the election. Endorsement requirements depend on the municipality's size and range from 10 to 160 endorsements, with a maximum of twice the required number. At the 2026 research date, 50 municipalities used list elections, 7 used unrestricted elections and 4 had no ballot because only one list stood. A þjóðaratkvæðagreiðsla is a referendum and forms the fourth statutory election type. Its voters follow the eligibility rules used for Alþingi and presidential elections. The referendum held on 29 August 2026 concerned whether to resume negotiations on Iceland's membership of the European Union, and its result was advisory. For Alþingi elections, presidential elections and referendums, voters generally need Icelandic citizenship, legal domicile in Iceland and to be at least 18 years old. Icelandic citizens who moved abroad can retain voting rights from age 16 after applying to Þjóðskrá Íslands. Foreign citizens are generally excluded from these national elections, subject to a historical Danish exception. Municipal voting is broader: Icelandic and other Nordic citizens with legal domicile and at least 18 years of age may vote, while other foreign citizens generally qualify after three consecutive years of domicile. Icelandic students in Denmark, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Norway or Sweden can apply under the specific municipal-election rule at least 40 days before the relevant election. Þjóðskrá Íslands maintains the electoral register, called the kjörskrá. A voter's kennitala can be used to check registration. The legally relevant domicile reference date determines registration, and the register assigns the voter to a specific kjördeild and kjörstaður. On election day, the voter presents identification, receives a ballot and places it in the ballot box under the supervision of the local kjörstjórn. Additional markings, selecting multiple lists or making the ballot identifiable can invalidate it. A voter can cast a ballot before election day through a sýslumaður. Voters abroad can usually vote at an Icelandic embassy or consulate. Voting at an institution or at home may be available because of illness, disability or childbirth when the legal conditions are met. An application for home voting must be submitted by 10:00 two days before the election, and home voting can begin as early as three weeks before election day. The official calendar sets the applicable deadlines for each election type, and voter participation procedures have no stated fee. Counting begins after the polls close and is open to public observation. Senior local electoral commissions announce local results, while Landskjörstjórn announces parliamentary, presidential and national results. An Alþingi preparatory committee reviews the legality of elected members and alternates and may order a recount. Complaints about the electoral register, candidate lists or election legality can be submitted to the Úrskurðarnefnd kosningamála. Iceland has a parliamentary system. The president appoints the prime minister and appoints other ministers on the prime minister's proposal. Ministers act under the authority of Alþingi. If Alþingi passes a vote of no confidence in the government, the prime minister must tender the resignation of the cabinet. After the 2024 Alþingi election, the Social Democratic Alliance, Liberal Reform Party and People's Party formed a coalition that took office on 21 December 2024. Election costs are distributed between the state and municipalities under regulation no. 442/2024.