Local referendums, 2008

The vast majority of the local referendums were arranged in the 1970s and the -80s, with 219 and 228 respectively. The decline was pronounced in the 90s and 00s, when the number of local referendums was 114 and 105 respectively.

Three local referendums in 2008

In 2008 there were only three local referendums in total. All of these were carried out in Notodden municipality in Telemark and dealt with the question of which variant of the Norwegian language should be used in three primary schools. This is the lowest number of local referendums registered during a single year in the whole period.

In total, 2 600 voters were entitled to vote in these referendums, but only 17 per cent of these participated. This makes the turnout in local referendums in 2008 the lowest registered for any year in the period 1970 to 2008.

Slightly above 50 per cent turnout

The average voter turnout for the whole period between 1970 and 2008 was 51.2 per cent, varying from 57 per cent in the 1980s to approximately 40 per cent in the 1990s.

In total, some 1 500 000 people have been entitled to vote one or several times on local referendums in this period.

Vast variation within subjects

A number of different subjects have been at the centre of direct voter influence in the local referendums. Questions concerning alcohol and the use of different variants of the Norwegian language have traditionally been the most frequent topics for local referendums, especially in the 1970s and -80s. Together these amounts to 70 per cent of all local referendums arranged between 1970 and 2008.

Local referendums concerning changes in the municipality’s districts, various referendums concerning identity (about city status, name of municipality), territorial boundaries like the merging of municipalities, and referendums concerning different environmental matters, have been at the centre of consultative considerations from inhabitants in the municipalities. The number of referendums about these subjects has increased during the last two decades. This is especially the case for the environmental ones.

Møre and Romsdal on top

Geographically, Møre and Romsdal county has arranged the most local referendums - in total 114 between 1970 and 2008. About two thirds of these were concerning the variant of the Norwegian language and changes in local districts. There have not been any local referendums in Oslo in the same period, while four have been arranged in Akershus.

90 per cent in compliance with the poll

Where this information is available, the numbers indicate that approximately 90 per cent of the polling results were complied with by the municipalities in the decisions related to the local referendum. The highest proportion of compliance is found in the referendum subjects concerning alcohol, where close to 99 per cent of the final decisions were in compliance with the polls. On the other side, the lowest proportion is found in regards to the subjects concerning territory, where 70 per cent were in compliance with the polls.

Tables:

• Table 1 Local referendums 1970-2008. Voter turnout in percentage, by decade and year
• Table 2 Local referendums 1970-2008. Persons entitled to vote and voter turnout, by county and municipality
• Table 3 Local referendums 1970-2008. Number of local referendums, by subject, decade and year
• Table 4 Local referendums 1970-2008. Number of local referendums, by county and subject
• Table 5 Local referendums 1970-2008. Voter turnout in percentage, by subject
• Table 6 Local referendums 1970-2008. Decision in compliance with the poll or not, by subject
• Table 7 Local referendums 1970-2008. Local referendums in Notodden municipality concerning the variant of the Norwegian language, compared with Telemark county and the whole country, by persons entitled to vote, voter turnout and number of elections