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/en/valg/statistikker/folkavs_kostra/aar
252019
17 local referendums in 2015
statistikk
2016-06-09T10:00:00.000Z
Elections
en
folkavs_kostra, Local referendums, local democracy, persons entitled to vote, electoral turnoutReferendums, Elections
false
Local referendums in Norwegian counties and municipalities in the period from 1970 and onwards. A total of 17 local referendums were held in 2015.

Local referendums, 2015

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17 local referendums in 2015

A total of 17 local referendums were held in 2015, the highest number since 2004. A total of 68 400 people were entitled to vote, and voter turnout was 57.7 per cent. The referendums related to municipal boundaries and establishing a national park.

Numbers of local referendums in Norwegian municipalities, last four years by categoryPublished 9 June 2016
2012201320142015
Referendums
Total85617
Alcohol0000
Variant of the Norwegian language3240
Territorial01216
District and identity0000
Environmental5001
Other subjects0200

Source: Statistics Norway

Statistics Norway has registered a total of 744 local referendums on various issues in the period 1970 to 2015. In a historical perspective, the majority of local referendums have been about the different variants of the Norwegian language, but most of the referendums last year were about municipal boundaries.

Referendums on municipal boundaries in 16 municipalities

Referendums were held in 16 municipalities about merging municipalities. The voter turnout in the referendums on municipal boundaries was 57.8 per cent. The highest turnout was in the municipality of Åseral in Vest-Agder. A total of 71.8 per cent of the 728 eligible voters in the municipality voted in the referendum and 60 per cent voted against merging. The lowest turnout was registered in the municipality of Herøy in Nordland, where 49.1 per cent of the 1 389 eligible voters voted and 80 per cent voted against merging.

National park in Lofoten

The referendum about establishing Lofotodden national park was proposed by the inhabitants of the municipality of Moskenes. The voter turnout was 45.5 per cent and 58 per cent voted against establishing a national park in Lofoten. Despite the result of the referendum, the municipal council decided to apply for establishing a national park in Lofoten.