Four million have the right to vote

Published:

For the first time in history, over four million people are entitled to vote in an election held in Norway. This is an increase of about 219 000 voters from the municipal and county council election held in 2011.

The biggest increase is among the foreign nationals, who now constitute 7.7 per cent of all voters, compared with 5.5 per cent in the previous local elections.

Figure 1

Figure 1. Municipal and County Council Election 2015. Persons entitled to vote

3.3 per cent are first-time voters

A total of 130 600 people, or 3.3 per cent of the electorate are first-time voters aged 18-19 years. The lowest proportion of first-time voters is found in Oslo, with 2.3 per cent. Sogn og Fjordane is the county with the highest percentage of first-time voters, with 3.7 per cent.

Figure 2

Figure 2. Municipal and County Council Election 2015. Persons entitled to vote by age

The group of Norwegian nationals who live abroad and are entitled to vote at the municipal and county elections in 2015 was made up 37 400 people.

13.6 per cent with immigrant background

A total of 233 600 people with an immigrant background (people with two foreign-born parents) and 310 200 foreign citizens are entitled to vote at this election, which in total constitutes 13.6 per cent of all voters. Oslo has the largest proportion of voters with an immigrant background, where almost every third voter has an immigrant background. Of the electorate in Oslo, 12.8 per cent are foreign citizens and 15.7 per cent are Norwegian citizens with two foreign-born parents. Nord-Trøndelag has the lowest percentage of voters with an immigrant background, totalling 5.8 per cent.

Figure 3

Figure 3. Municipal and County Council Election 2015. Norwegian citizens with immigrant background. Selected countries. Estrimated figures

Most foreign eligible voters are from Poland

The largest group of foreign citizens entitled to vote is from Poland, which constitutes 18 per cent of foreign citizens entitled to vote. Sweden is the second largest group with 13 per cent. Among the group of Norwegian citizens with an immigrant background, the largest group is from Pakistan, making up 9 per cent. Vietnam is the second largest group with 7 per cent.

Figure 4

Figure 4. Municipal and County Council Election 2015. Foreign citizens entitled to vote. Selected country. Estimated figures