Country-wide local elections for seats in municipality and county councils were held throughout
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...
on 10 September 2007, with some areas polling on 9 September as well. For most places this meant that two elections, the
municipal elections and the
county elections ran concurrently. In addition, several municipalities held direct mayoral elections.
For the country at large, the election produced a major setback for the
Socialist Left Party, while most other parties, including the two other parties of the governing
Red-Green Coalition, the
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party (; , A or Ap; ), formerly The Norwegian Labour Party (, DNA), is a Social democracy, social democratic List of political parties in Norway, political party in Norway. It is positioned on the centre-left of the political spectru ...
and the
Centre Party, made some advances or held their position from 2003.
Term of office
A term of office, electoral term, or parliamentary term is the length of time a person serves in a particular elected office. In many jurisdictions there is a defined limit on how long terms of office may be before the officeholder must be subjec ...
was 1 January 2008 until 31 December 2011.
Identification requirement
A new rule required voters to produce an
identity document
An identity document (abbreviated as ID) is a documentation, document proving a person's Identity (social science), identity.
If the identity document is a plastic card it is called an ''identity card'' (abbreviated as ''IC'' or ''ID card''). ...
in order to vote. This change was criticized by the
Red Electoral Alliance who argued that poor people without such documents would be unable to afford such a document, and thus wind up disenfranchised. The minister in charge of the election,
Ã…slaug Haga, prompted the local election authorities to exercise discretion, and aid people who need identification if necessary. It was also not necessary to have identification if the ballot recipient knew the voter and could vouch for him or her.
Voter turnout concerns
Ahead of the election, it was feared that
voter turnout
In political science, voter turnout is the participation rate (often defined as those who cast a ballot) of a given election. This is typically either the percentage of Voter registration, registered voters, Suffrage, eligible voters, or all Voti ...
would be lower than the 59% of the 2003 local elections, which was already low by Norwegian standards. Even so, a few days before the
early voting
Early voting, also called advance polling or pre-poll voting, is a convenience voting process by which voters in a public election can vote before a scheduled Election Day (politics), election day. Early voting can take place remotely, such as v ...
deadline had past, about 291,200 ballots had been cast prior to the election, up from the 249,022 ballots cast in 2003.
The final result showed a turnout of 61.7% in the municipal election, and 57.5% in the county election.
Results and response
Municipal elections
2,209,706 valid votes were cast for the municipal elections, a turnout of 61.7%. These are the aggregate results:
In the large cities,
Oslo
Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...
and
Bergen
Bergen (, ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo.
By May 20 ...
retained a majority for the non-socialist parties. The Labour Party enjoyed significant gains in
Trondheim
Trondheim ( , , ; ), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros, and Trondhjem (), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2022, it had a population of 212,660. Trondheim is the third most populous municipality in Norway, and is ...
and
Tromsø
Tromsø is a List of towns and cities in Norway, city in Tromsø Municipality in Troms county, Norway. The city is the administrative centre of the municipality as well as the administrative centre of Troms county. The city is located on the is ...
. A Conservative-Labour coalition will share the power in
Stavanger
Stavanger, officially the Stavanger Municipality, is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Norway. It is the third largest city and third largest metropolitan area in Norway (through conurbation with neighboring Sandnes) and the ...
(continue) and
Kristiansand
Kristiansand is a city and Municipalities of Norway, municipality in Agder county, Norway. The city is the fifth-largest and the municipality is the sixth-largest in Norway, with a population of around 116,000 as of January 2020, following th ...
(new).
County elections
2,076,609 valid votes were cast for the county elections, a turnout of 57.5%. These are the aggregate results:
Response
For the country at large, the Socialist Left Party's (SV) popularity plummeted, and the result was described as a "catastrophe". Most other main line parties could log slight gains or a result comparable with the previous election.
Part of the explanation for SV's poor performance has been laid on their performance in the cabinet. In particular
Helen Bjørnøy, the minister of environmental affairs, and
Øystein Djupedal, the minister of education and research have faced criticism. Bjørnøy has been well respected, but has suffered due to having to make compromises on environmental issues, in particular to the Centre Party which favors rural development, often over conservation. Djupedal has had to contend with accusations of arrogance, and several teachers, who SV have traditionally fared well amongst, have complained about the lack of improvement in the country's education system. Also, SV's party leader and Norway's minister of finance,
Kristin Halvorsen has been behind some unpopular economic measures.
Olav Gunnar Ballo, an SV member of parliament has called for the resignation of both Bjørnøy and Djupedal, but on the day after the election, Halvorsen announced that none of the SV cabinet members would be dismissed.
Allegations of electoral fraud in Drammen
In the election in
Drammen Municipality, it was revealed that a number of drug addicts had been offered (approximately 8 US Dollars) if they would vote for the Labour Party, and with a personal vote for the candidate Yousuf Gilani. There were also allegations that Gilani had escorted voters into the election booths. Another allegation was that a person who declined a bribe to vote in this manner was subjected to death threats. The police investigating the allegations indicated that
electoral fraud
Electoral fraud, sometimes referred to as election manipulation, voter fraud, or vote rigging, involves illegal interference with the process of an election, either by increasing the vote share of a favored candidate, depressing the vote share o ...
had indeed taken place, Gilani was asked by his party to take a leave from his political duties. Gilani took a leave, and both he and the Labour Party have stated that this was a decision made on Gilani's initiative.
Gilani himself reported the case to the police, denying any wrongdoing and stating his belief that the incident was part of a
smear campaign. Gilani also reported death threats and incidents of harassment directed against him during the run-up to the election.
Two members of the Drammen council, from the
Progress Party and the
Socialist Left Party called for the result to be cancelled, and for new elections to be held in the city.
Ã…slaug Haga, the minister whose cabinet was in charge of the elections, also hinted that a rerun might become necessary. However, the mayor, Tore Opdal Hansen (Conservative), while expressing shock at the revelations, said that would probably not happen. It was pointed out that the scope of the fraud appeared small, and that even if all the 364 Labour ballots with a personal vote for Gilani were thrown out, that there would be no effect on the council's composition partywise. A meeting in the Drammen election board on 24 September approved the result, prompting demands for law amendments ro allow election reruns even if the party composition in the council remained unchanged. Mayor Hansen was among those expressing disappointment at the board not having the authority to reject the result, even if the personal composition of the council could be altered.
Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa, the new minister of Local Government and Regional Development, and in charge of the Norwegian elections at large, promised to consider amendments to the tighten the law if needed to prevent such incidents happening again.
Direct mayoral elections
Several municipalities held direct mayoral elections rather than having the council appoint the mayor. The municipalities holding these elections were (municipalities who held such elections for the first time are marked "(new)"):
*
Østfold
Østfold () is a county in Eastern Norway, which from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2023 was part of Viken. Østfold borders Akershus and southwestern Sweden (Västra Götaland County and Värmland), while Buskerud and Vestfold are on the other ...
county
**
Eidsberg Municipality (new)
**
Spydeberg Municipality (new)
*
Akershus
Akershus () is a county in Norway, with Oslo as its administrative centre, though Oslo is not located within Akershus. Akershus has been a region in Eastern Norway with Oslo as its main city since the Middle Ages, and is named after the Akers ...
county
**
Hurdal Municipality
**
Nesodden Municipality (new)
*
Hedmark
Hedmark () was a Counties of Norway, county in Norway from 1 January 1919 to 31 December 2019, bordering Trøndelag to the north, Oppland to the west, Akershus to the south, and Sweden to the east. The county administration is in Hamar.
Hedmar ...
county
**
Alvdal Municipality
**
Trysil Municipality
Trysil is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the Traditional districts of Norway, traditional district of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Inn ...
*
Oppland
Oppland is a former county in Norway which existed from 1781 until its dissolution on 1 January 2020. The old Oppland county bordered the counties of Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Akershus, Oslo and Hedmark. The ...
county
**
Gausdal Municipality
**
Nord-Aurdal Municipality (new)
**
Søndre Land Municipality (new)
*
Buskerud
Buskerud () is a Counties of Norway, county and a current electoral district in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Innlandet, Vestland, Telemark and Vestfold. The region extends from the Oslofjord and Drammensfjorden in the southeast to Hardanger ...
county
**
Lier Municipality
**
Hemsedal Municipality (new)
*
Vestfold
Vestfold () is a county and a current electoral district in Norway. Located on the western shore of the Oslofjord, it borders Buskerud and Telemark counties. The county administration is located in Tønsberg, Norway's oldest city, and the larg ...
county
**
Re Municipality
**
Holmestrand Municipality (new)
**
Nøtterøy Municipality (new)
**
Stokke Municipality (new)
**
Tønsberg Municipality (new)
*
Aust-Agder county
**
Risør Municipality
**
Evje og Hornnes Municipality (new)
*
Vest-Agder
Vest-Agder (; "West Agder") was one of 18 counties (''fylker'') in Norway from 1 January 1919 to 31 December 2019, after it was merged with Aust-Agder to form Agder county. In 2016, there were 182,701 inhabitants, around 3.5% of the total popul ...
county
**
Farsund Municipality (new)
**
Flekkefjord Municipality (new)
**
Kvinesdal Municipality (new)
**
Songdalen Municipality (new)
*
Rogaland
Rogaland () is a Counties of Norway, county in Western Norway, bordering the North Sea to the west and the counties of Vestland to the north, Telemark to the east and Agder to the east and southeast. As of 1 January 2024, it had a population of 49 ...
county
**
Strand Municipality
Strand is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is located in the Traditional districts of Norway, traditional district of Ryfylke. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Jørpeland. ...
**
Klepp Municipality
**
Vindafjord Municipality
**
Eigersund Municipality
Eigersund is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is in the Traditional districts of Norway, traditional district of Dalane. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Egersund. The tow ...
(new)
**
Time Municipality (new)
*
Hordaland
Hordaland () was a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark, and Rogaland counties. Hordaland was the third largest county, after Akershus and Oslo, by population. The county government was the Hordaland County Munici ...
county
**
Fusa Municipality (new)
**
Kvam Municipality
Kvam is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The municipality is located along the Hardangerfjorden in the traditional district of Hardanger. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Norheimsund. Other larger set ...
(new)
*
Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane (; literally "Parish and the Fjords") was a Counties of Norway, county in western Norway, from 1 January 1919 to 31 December 2019, after it was merged to become part of Vestland county. Bordering previous counties Møre og Romsda ...
county
**
Selje Municipality
**
Vågsøy Municipality (new)
*
Møre og Romsdal
Møre og Romsdal (; ) is a Counties of Norway, county in the northernmost part of Western Norway, Western Norway. It borders the counties of Trøndelag, Innlandet, and Vestland. The county administration is located in the Molde (town), town of M ...
county
**
Gjemnes Municipality
**
Molde Municipality
Molde Municipality () is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Møre og Romsdal Counties of Norway, county, Norway. It is located in the Traditional districts of Norway, traditional district of Romsdal. It is located on the Romsdal ...
**
Averøy Municipality (new)
**
Sula Municipality (new)
**
Ørskog Municipality (new)
*
Sør-Trøndelag
Sør-Trøndelag (; ) was a Counties of Norway, county comprising the southern portion of the present-day Trøndelag county in Norway. It bordered the old Nord-Trøndelag () county as well as the counties of Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, and Hedmark. ...
county
**
Hemne Municipality
Hemne is a former municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 2020 when it was incorporated into Heim Municipality. It was part of the Fosen region. The administrative centre of the m ...
**
Osen Municipality (new)
*
Nordland
Nordland (; , , , ) is one of the three northernmost Counties of Norway, counties in Norway in the Northern Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Trøndelag in the south, Norrbotten County in Sweden to the east, Västerbotten County to t ...
county
**
Evenes Municipality
**
Dønna Municipality (new)
*
Troms
Troms (; ; ; ) is a Counties of Norway, county in northern Norway. It borders Finnmark county to the northeast and Nordland county in the southwest. Norrbotten Län in Sweden is located to the south and further southeast is a shorter border with ...
county
**
Harstad Municipality
Harstad (; ) is the second-most populated municipality in Troms county, Norway. It is mostly located on the large island of Hinnøya. The municipal center is the Harstad (town), town of Harstad, which is the most populous town in Central Håloga ...
**
Ibestad Municipality
Ibestad () is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Troms Counties of Norway, county, Norway. It is part of the Districts of Norway, traditional region of Central HÃ¥logaland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the vil ...
**
Lyngen Municipality
Lyngen (; ) is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Troms Counties of Norway, county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lyngseidet. Other notable villages include Furuflaten, Lattervika, Nord- ...
**
Kvæfjord Municipality
Kvæfjord () is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Troms Counties of Norway, county, Norway. It is part of the Districts of Norway, traditional region of Central Hålogaland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the v ...
**
Skjervøy Municipality
Skjervøy Municipality (, ; ) is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Troms Counties of Norway, county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the Skjervøy (village), town of Skjervøy on the island of Skjervøya ...
**
Skånland Municipality
**
MÃ¥lselv Municipality
**
Lenvik Municipality (new)
*
Finnmark
Finnmark (; ; ; ; ) is a counties of Norway, county in northern Norway. By land, it borders Troms county to the west, Finland's Lapland (Finland), Lapland region to the south, and Russia's Murmansk Oblast to the east, and by water, the Norweg ...
county
**
Deatnu Tana Municipality (new)
Among the notable results in these elections was
Knut Henning Thygesen's victory in
Risør Municipality, making him the first mayor ever for the
Red Electoral Alliance.
RVs første ordfører
(RV's first mayor) Nettavisen, September 11, 2007
References
{{Norwegian Elections
2007
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year.
Events
January
* January 1
**Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
2007
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year.
Events
January
* January 1
**Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...
2007 in Norway
September 2007 in Europe