How does early voting work?

Most commonly people vote on election day. If voters cannot do so, an early voting is an option. It shall begin no later than 29 days before election day or earlier if so announced.

Voting in Iceland - at the district commissioner

Voters in Iceland may vote at the district commissioner, here are their locations. The district commissioner of the greater Reykjavík area has set up polling stations in busy locations in recent elections, as Smáralind or Holtagarðar.

Voting abroad

Voters must contact the embassy or consular office in the country in question to know where and when they can vote. Voters must show some ID, for example a driving licence or passport. A list of embassies and consular is available here.

If a voter is unsure where and how to vote abroad, it is best to contact the Foreign Ministry Civil Service at hjalp@utn.is or by phone at +354 5459900.

Voting at an institution

Under special circumstances, it may be permissible to vote inside institutions, such as:

• health care premises

• old-age premises

• institutions for people with disabilities

• prisons

The district commissioner shall advertise where and when it is possible to vote at the appropriate locations.

Here are instructions on how to vote in institutions, in Icelandic.

Voting at a private home

If a voter is unable to attend a polling session on polling day because of illness, disability or childbirth, he may vote at home. Voter must apply for it to the district commissioner. Requests for permission to vote in a private home shall be submitted in writing and
supported by a certificate from a legally-competent person attesting to the voter’s
circumstances, which shall have been received by the presiding officer in question no later
than two days prior to polling day. Voting may be held no sooner than three weeks before polling day.

Early voting process

Voters must identify themselves, for example with ID such as driving licence or passport. They then receive:

• ballot

• an envelope for the ballot

• cover letter to the ballot

• another envelope for post

When voting early the ballot is blank. For example it does not contain the names of candidates or parties. A voter writes or stamps the name of a candidate, candidate list or answer to a question in a referendum (as appropriate) on the ballot.

The cover letter with the ballot, which contains information on the voter and where to send the vote, must be signed by the voter and the presiding officer.

The voter is responsible for getting the vote to the right polling station. The letter can be sent by mail, or the voter asks someone to deliver it. The presiding officer is however obliged, if the voter requests it, to mail the envelope.

When voting in the same constituency as the voter is registered the ballot may be placed in the ballot box there.