Local referendums, 2009-2010

Three local referendums categorised as territorial were held in 2009, while the fourth was about a name dispute.

Border adjustment

Two referendums were held in the municipalities Vaksdal and Modalen respectively, and dealt with a possible transfer of two geographical areas in Vaksdal to Modalen. This was the first time these two municipalities held a local referendum during the years 1970 to 2009. In Vaksdal, 3 100 people were entitled to vote, and voter turnout was 60.5 per cent. The turnout in Modalen, where 258 were entitled to vote, was 77.1 per cent. The referendums were held in connection with the Storting election, and the voters were entitled to cast their vote in advance, and this was the case for 18 per cent of the votes.

The initiative for these referendums came from the rural community councils in the rich water power areas of Eiksingdalen and Eidslandet in Vaksdal municipality. The reasons behind their desire to be transferred to Modalen were both economic and practical. The votes in Vaksdal showed a solid opposition to the transfer (73 per cent). In isolation, the votes in Eiksingdalen and Eidslandet showed the opposite result, with 78 per cent of the people entitled to vote supporting the border adjustment. The votes in Modalen also supported the transfer (67 per cent). The recommendation to the ministry of local government and regional development from the county governor in Hordaland, has been submitted in accordance with the result in Vaksdal. The final decision will be taken by the ministry.

Further investigation into change of county

The last territorial referendum registered in 2009 was held in Osen municipality in Sør-Trøndelag. The municipality was looking for a direct recommendation from its inhabitants as to whether they were to continue investigating the possibility for a change in county affiliation from Sør-Trøndelag to Nord-Trøndelag. In total, 850 people were entitled to vote in this referendum, and the turnout was 62.4 per cent. This referendum was also held in connection with the Storting election. Approximately 24 per cent of the votes were cast in advance.

The outcome in this consultative local referendum showed that 66 per cent of the votes were in support of a further investigation into the possibility for changing county belonging. Together with other parties, Osen municipality is now pursuing this investigation further. Incidentally, this is the third time a local referendum was held in Osen since 1970. Previously, a referendum concerning the sale of class II beer was arranged in 1987, and in 1971 there was a referendum in Brattjer school district concerning the variant of the Norwegian language to be used.

Long-lasting name dispute settled

A name dispute that has been in progress over several decades was finally settled by the local referendum held in the previous Aun school district in Harstad municipality, Troms county. By letting the inhabitants in the district directly express their opinion, the municipality sought to finally end the dispute about whether the name of the school district should be Aun or Aune. Among the 78 persons entitled to vote in the referendum, 74.4 per cent cast their vote, and in total 86 per cent voted to change the name from Aun to Aune. The referendum was arranged in connection with the Storting election, and this is the first experience in Harstad with the institution of local referendum during the years 1970 to 2009.

Tables:

• Table 1 Local referendums 2009. Referendums in 2009 and previous experiences with local referendums, by persons entitled to vote, subject and number of elections. Compared with the county and the country as a whole
• Table 2 Local referendums 1970-2009. Voter turnout in percentage, by decade and year
• Table 3 Local referendums 1970-2009. Persons entitled to vote and voter turnout, by county and municipality
• Table 4 Local referendums 1970-2009. Number of local referendums, by subject, decade and year
• Table 5 Local referendums 1970-2009. Number of local referendums, by county and subject
• Table 6 Local referendums 1970-2009. Voter turnout in percentage, by subject
• Table 7 Local referendums 1970-2009. Decision in compliance with the poll or not, by subject