Reykjavík North (Althing constituency)

Reykjavík North
Reykjavík norður
Constituency
for the Althing
Outline map
Location of Reykjavík North within Iceland
MunicipalityReykjavík
RegionCapital
Electorate47,600 (2024)
Current Constituency
Created2003
Seats9 (2003–present)[a]
Member of the Althing[1]
List
Created fromReykjavík

Reykjavík North (Icelandic: Reykjavík norður) is one of the six multi-member constituencies of the Althing, the national legislature of Iceland. The constituency was established in 2003 when the existing Reykjavík constituency was split into two. The constituency currently elects nine[a] of the 63 members of the Althing using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2024 parliamentary election it had 47,600 registered electors.

History

In March 1843 King Christian VIII of Denmark issued a royal decree converting the Althing into a consultative assembly. It consisted to 20 members popularly elected from single-member constituencies, one of which was Reykjavík.[2][3] In the subsequent decades the electoral process, size of Althing and constituencies changed several time. Reykjavík became a two-member constituency in 1903 (effective 1904).[4] In 1920 (effective 1923) it became a four-member constituency using proportional representation.[5] It became a six-member constituency in 1934 and an eight-member constituency in 1942.[5][6]

One of the main reasons for the changes was the shift in population from rural to urban areas, particularly Reykjavík.[2] The changes however always lagged behind population shifts.[2] This resulted in rural constituencies being over-represented in the Althing. The disproportionately in the voting power of rural and urban voters was as high as 10:1 by the mid 20th century.[2] The over-representation of rural constituencies favoured the Progressive Party, whose support base was mostly farmers.[2] The party was over-represented in Althing even after the introduction of compensatory seats (equalisation seas) in 1934.

The constituencies were radically altered in 1959 when the single and two-member constituencies were abolished and replaced by seven multi-member constituencies using proportional representation.[2][6] The number of seats allocated to Reykjavík was increased from 8 to 12 at the same time.[2] This reduced the disproportionately in the voting power of rural and urban voters to 3:1.[2]

In September 1997 Prime Minister Davíð Oddsson appointed a committee headed by Friðrik Klemenz Sophusson to review the division of constituencies in Iceland and the organisation of elections. The committee's report was published in October 1998 and recommended, amongst other things, that the number of constituencies be reduced and that they be more equal in population size.[7] The Althing passed an amendment to the constitution in June 1999 which removed the reference to specific eight constituencies contained within Article 31 and instead simply stated that there would be six or seven constituencies and that the Althing would determine the boundaries between the constituencies.[8] The amendment also required that if, following an election to Althing, the number of registered electors per seat (including compensatory seats) in any constituency is less than half of that in another constituency, the National Electoral Commission shall change the allocation of seats so as to reduce the imbalance.[8] This reduced the disproportionately in the voting power of rural and urban voters to 2:1.

Reykjavík North was one of six constituencies (kjördæmi) established by the "Elections to the Althing Act no. 24/2000" (Lög um kosningar til Alþingis, nr. 24/2000) passed by the Althing in May 2000.[9] The Act required that, when an election to Althing had been called, the National Electoral Commission had to determine the boundaries between the Reykjavík North and Reykjavík South constituencies so that the number of registered electors per seat (including compensatory seats) is approximately the same.[9] The Act initially allocated eleven seats to the constituency - nine constituency seats and two compensatory seats.[9]

Electoral system

Reykjavík North currently elects nine[a] of the 63 members of the Althing using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system.[10][11] Constituency seats are allocated using the D'Hondt method.[12][13] Compensatory seats (equalisation seas) are calculated based on the national vote and are allocated using the D'Hondt method at the constituency level.[14][15] Only parties that reach the 5% national threshold compete for compensatory seats.[13][16]

Election results

Summary

ElectionLeft-Green
V / U
Social Democrats
S
People's
F
Pirate
P / Þ
Viðreisn
C
Progressive
B
Independence
D
Centre
M
Votes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%Seats
20241,0802.92%09,65326.08%34,40011.89%12,0065.42%06,04316.32%21,4924.03%06,45917.45%23,2848.87%1
20215,59715.94%24,42712.61%12,6947.67%14,50812.84%12,7067.71%14,32912.33%17,35320.94%21,2343.51%0
20177,72721.54%34,57512.75%12,5467.10%04,88713.62%13,0138.40%11,9015.30%08,10922.60%32,5096.99%0
20167,31820.92%21,8225.21%01,3213.78%06,66319.04%24,06411.62%11,9885.68%08,53924.41%3
20135,49315.67%24,99614.25%12,4076.87%05,75916.43%28,18723.36%3
20098,43224.01%211,56832.94%33,3759.61%17,50821.38%2
20075,92816.92%210,24829.24%32,1866.24%012,76036.41%4
20033,5379.79%113,11036.27%44,19911.62%112,83335.50%3

(Excludes compensatory seats.)

Detailed

2020s

2024

Results of the 2024 parliamentary election held on 30 November 2024:[17]

PartyVotes%Seats
Con.Com.Tot.
Social Democratic AllianceS9,65326.08%314
Independence PartyD6,45917.45%202
ViðreisnC6,04316.32%213
People's PartyF4,40011.89%101
Centre PartyM3,2848.87%101
Socialist Party of IcelandJ2,1945.93%000
Pirate PartyP2,0065.42%000
Progressive PartyB1,4924.03%000
Left-Green MovementV1,0802.92%000
Democratic PartyL3670.99%000
Responsible FutureY420.11%000
Valid votes37,020100.00%9211
Blank votes3991.06%
Rejected votes – other810.22%
Total polled37,50078.78%
Registered electors47,600

The following candidates were elected:[18]

2021

Results of the 2021 parliamentary election held on 25 September 2021:[19]

PartyVotes%Seats
Con.Com.Tot.
Independence PartyD7,35320.94%202
Left-Green MovementV5,59715.94%202
Pirate PartyP4,50812.84%112
Social Democratic AllianceS4,42712.61%112
Progressive PartyB4,32912.33%101
ViðreisnC2,7067.71%101
People's PartyF2,6947.67%101
Socialist Party of IcelandJ1,9765.63%000
Centre PartyM1,2343.51%000
Liberal Democratic PartyO1500.43%000
Responsible FutureY1440.41%000
Valid votes35,118100.00%9211
Blank votes4831.35%
Rejected votes – other1270.36%
Total polled35,72878.76%
Registered electors45,361

The following candidates were elected:[20]

2010s

2017

Results of the 2017 parliamentary election held on 28 October 2017:[21][22][23][24]

PartyVotes%Seats
Con.Com.Tot.
Independence PartyD8,10922.60%303
Left-Green MovementV7,72721.54%303
Pirate PartyP4,88713.62%112
Social Democratic AllianceS4,57512.75%101
ViðreisnC3,0138.40%101
People's PartyF2,5467.10%011
Centre PartyM2,5096.99%000
Progressive PartyB1,9015.30%000
Bright FutureA5061.41%000
People's Front of IcelandR1050.29%000
Valid votes35,878100.00%9211
Blank votes7111.94%
Rejected votes – other1440.39%
Total polled36,73379.73%
Registered electors46,073

The following candidates were elected:[24]

2016

Results of the 2016 parliamentary election held on 29 October 2016:[25][26][27][28]

PartyVotes%Seats
Con.Com.Tot.
Independence PartyD8,53924.41%303
Left-Green MovementV7,31820.92%213
Pirate PartyP6,66319.04%213
ViðreisnC4,06411.62%101
Bright FutureA2,6737.64%101
Progressive PartyB1,9885.68%000
Social Democratic AllianceS1,8225.21%000
People's PartyF1,3213.78%000
DawnT4961.42%000
People's Front of IcelandR1040.30%000
Valid votes34,988100.00%9211
Blank votes7001.95%
Rejected votes – other1750.49%
Total polled35,86377.88%
Registered electors46,051

The following candidates were elected:[28]

2013

Results of the 2013 parliamentary election held on 27 April 2013:[29][30][31][32]

PartyVotes%Seats
Con.Com.Tot.
Independence PartyD8,18723.36%303
Progressive PartyB5,75916.43%202
Left-Green MovementV5,49315.67%202
Social Democratic AllianceS4,99614.25%112
Bright FutureA3,57610.20%101
Pirate PartyÞ2,4076.87%011
Iceland Democratic PartyL1,3983.99%000
Households PartyI1,2893.68%000
DawnT1,0733.06%000
Right-Green People's PartyG5561.59%000
RainbowJ1810.52%000
Humanist PartyH710.20%000
People's Front of IcelandR640.18%000
Valid votes35,050100.00%9211
Blank votes7672.13%
Rejected votes – other1460.41%
Total polled35,96379.00%
Registered electors45,523

The following candidates were elected:[32]

2000s

2009

Results of the 2009 parliamentary election held on 25 April 2009:[33][34][35]

PartyVotes%Seats
Con.Com.Tot.
Social Democratic AllianceS11,56832.94%314
Left-Green MovementV8,43224.01%213
Independence PartyD7,50821.38%202
Progressive PartyB3,3759.61%101
Citizens' MovementO3,3579.56%101
Liberal PartyF5561.58%000
Democracy MovementP3250.93%000
Valid votes35,121100.00%9211
Blank votes1,1453.14%
Rejected votes – other1740.48%
Total polled36,44083.26%
Registered electors43,767

The following candidates were elected:[35]

2007

Results of the 2007 parliamentary election held on 12 May 2007:[36][37][38]

PartyVotes%Seats
Con.Com.Tot.
Independence PartyD12,76036.41%404
Social Democratic AllianceS10,24829.24%325
Left-Green MovementV5,92816.92%202
Liberal PartyF2,2166.32%000
Progressive PartyB2,1866.24%000
Icelandic Movement – Living CountryI1,7064.87%000
Valid votes35,044100.00%9211
Blank votes5101.43%
Rejected votes – other710.20%
Total polled35,62581.42%
Registered electors43,756

The following candidates were elected:[38]

2003

Results of the 2003 parliamentary election held on 10 May 2003:[39][40][41]

PartyVotes%Seats
Con.Com.Tot.
Social Democratic AllianceS13,11036.27%404
Independence PartyD12,83335.50%314
Progressive PartyB4,19911.62%112
Left-Green MovementU3,5379.79%101
Liberal PartyF2,0025.54%000
New ForceN4641.28%000
Valid votes36,145100.00%9211
Blank votes3390.93%
Rejected votes – other1310.36%
Total polled36,61585.53%
Registered electors42,812

The following candidates were elected:[41]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Excludes compensatory seats.

References

  1. ↑ "Alþingismenn - Þingmenn og embætti" (in Icelandic). Reykjavík, Iceland: Althing. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Helgason, Thorkell (November 2013). "Apportionment of Seats to Althingi, the Icelandic Parliament" (PDF). Reykjavík, Iceland: National Electoral Commission of Iceland. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  3. ↑ "Kjördæmaskipun á tímum ráðgjafarþinganna 1843–1874" (in Icelandic). Reykjavík, Iceland: Althing. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "Kjördæmaskipan á tímum Alþingis með takmarkað löggjafarvald 1874–1918" (in Icelandic). Reykjavík, Iceland: Althing. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Kjördæmaskipan fullvalda konungsríkis 1918–1944" (in Icelandic). Reykjavík, Iceland: Althing. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Kjördæmaskipan lýðveldisins frá 1944" (in Icelandic). Reykjavík, Iceland: Althing. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  7. ↑ "Skýrsla forsætisráðherra um endurskoðun á kjördæmaskipun og tilhögun kosninga til Alþingis" (in Icelandic). Reykjavík, Iceland: Althing. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Stjórnarskipunarlög um breytingu á stjórnarskrá lýðveldisins Íslands, nr. 33/1944, með síðari breytingum" (in Icelandic). Reykjavík, Iceland: Althing. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 "Lög um kosningar til Alþingis" (in Icelandic). Reykjavík, Iceland: Althing. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  10. ↑ "Election for Icelandic Parliament". Election Guide. Arlington, U.S.A.: International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  11. ↑ "Electoral Assistance: ElecData, Compendium of Electoral Data - Iceland". Strasbourg, France: Council of Europe. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  12. ↑ Helgason, Thorkell (November 2013). "Apportionment of Seats to Althingi, the Icelandic Parliament" (PDF). Reykjavík, Iceland: National Electoral Commission of Iceland. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  13. 1 2 "Iceland: Althingi (Parliament)". PARLINE database on national parliaments. Geneva, Switzerland: Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  14. ↑ Helgason, Thorkell (November 2013). "Apportionment of Seats to Althingi, the Icelandic Parliament" (PDF). Reykjavík, Iceland: National Electoral Commission of Iceland. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  15. ↑ Bengtsson, Å.; Hansen, K. M.; Harðarson, Ó. Þ.; Narud, H. M.; Oscarsson, H. (2014). The Nordic Voter: Myths of Exceptionalism. Colchester, U.K.: ECPR Press. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-907301-25-4. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  16. ↑ Helgason, Thorkell (November 2013). "Apportionment of Seats to Althingi, the Icelandic Parliament" (PDF). Reykjavík, Iceland: National Electoral Commission of Iceland. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  17. ↑ "Skýrsla til landskjörstjórnar og Hagstofu Íslands samkvæmt 108. gr. laga nr. 112/2021 frá yfirkjörstjórn í Reykjavikurkjördæmi norður við kosningar til Alþingis hinn 30. nóvember 2024" (PDF). National Electoral Commission of Iceland (in Icelandic). Reykjavík, Iceland: Yfirkjörstjórn í Reykjavíkurkjördæmi norður. p. 1. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  18. ↑ "Kosningaskýrsla Landskjörstjórnar: Útreikningur á úthlutun þingsæta við alþingiskosningar 30. nóvember 2024" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Reykjavík, Iceland: National Electoral Commission of Iceland. 10 December 2024. p. 40. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  19. ↑ "Skýrsla til landskjörstjórnar og Hagstofu Íslands samkvæmt ákvæðum 105. gr. og 116. gr. laga nr. 24/2000,með síðari breytingum frá yfirkjörstjórn í Reykjavíkurkjördæmi norður við kosningar til Alþingis 25. september 2021" (PDF). National Electoral Commission of Iceland (in Icelandic). Reykjavík, Iceland: Yfirkjörstjórn í Reykjavíkurkjördæmi norður. 26 September 2021. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  20. ↑ "Útreikningur á úthlutun þingsæta við alþingiskosningar 25. september 2021" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Reykjavík, Iceland: National Electoral Commission of Iceland. 30 September 2021. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  21. ↑ "Alþingiskosningar 28. október 2017" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 102, no. 27. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 21 December 2017. p. 22. ISSN 1670-4770. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  22. ↑ "Alþingiskosningar 28. október 2017" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 102, no. 27. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 21 December 2017. p. 25. ISSN 1670-4770. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  23. ↑ "Alþingiskosningar 28. október 2017" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 102, no. 27. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 21 December 2017. p. 7. ISSN 1670-4770. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  24. 1 2 "Alþingiskosningar 28. október 2017" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 102, no. 27. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 21 December 2017. p. 41. ISSN 1670-4770. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  25. ↑ "Alþingiskosningar 29. október 2016" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 101, no. 35. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 20 December 2016. p. 22. ISSN 1670-4770. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  26. ↑ "Alþingiskosningar 29. október 2016" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 101, no. 35. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 20 December 2016. p. 25. ISSN 1670-4770. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  27. ↑ "Alþingiskosningar 29. október 2016" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 101, no. 35. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 20 December 2016. p. 7. ISSN 1670-4770. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  28. 1 2 "Alþingiskosningar 29. október 2016" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 101, no. 35. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 20 December 2016. p. 42. ISSN 1670-4770. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  29. ↑ "Alþingiskosningar 27. apríl 2013" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 100, no. 3. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 24 February 2015. p. 19. ISSN 0019-1078. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  30. ↑ "Alþingiskosningar 27. apríl 2013" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 100, no. 3. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 24 February 2015. p. 22. ISSN 0019-1078. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  31. ↑ "Alþingiskosningar 27. apríl 2013" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 100, no. 3. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 24 February 2015. p. 6. ISSN 0019-1078. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  32. 1 2 "Alþingiskosningar 27. apríl 2013" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 100, no. 3. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 24 February 2015. p. 35. ISSN 0019-1078. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  33. ↑ "Alþingiskosningar 25. apríl 2009" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 95, no. 13. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 3 March 2010. p. 15. ISSN 0019-1078. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  34. ↑ "Alþingiskosningar 25. apríl 2009" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 95, no. 13. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 3 March 2010. p. 19. ISSN 0019-1078. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  35. 1 2 "Alþingiskosningar 25. apríl 2009" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 95, no. 13. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 3 March 2010. p. 30. ISSN 0019-1078. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  36. ↑ "Alþingiskosningar 12. maí 2007" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 93, no. 3. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 15 January 2008. p. 15. ISSN 0019-1078. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  37. ↑ "Alþingiskosningar 12. maí 2007" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 93, no. 3. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 15 January 2008. p. 19. ISSN 0019-1078. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  38. 1 2 "Alþingiskosningar 12. maí 2007" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 93, no. 3. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 15 January 2008. p. 31. ISSN 0019-1078. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  39. ↑ "Alþingiskosningar 10. maí 2003" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 89, no. 62. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 27 December 2004. p. 14. ISSN 0019-1078. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  40. ↑ "Alþingiskosningar 10. maí 2003" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 89, no. 62. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 27 December 2004. p. 17. ISSN 0019-1078. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  41. 1 2 "Alþingiskosningar 10. maí 2003" (PDF). Hagtíðindi (in Icelandic). Vol. 89, no. 62. Reykjavík, Iceland: Statistics Iceland. 27 December 2004. p. 27. ISSN 0019-1078. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.