Reykjavík North () is one of the six

multi-member An electoral or voting system is a set of rules used to determine the results of an election. Electoral systems are used in politics to elect governments, while non-political elections may take place in business, nonprofit organizations and inf ...

constituencies An electoral (congressional, legislative, etc.) district, sometimes called a constituency, riding, or ward, is a geographical portion of a political unit, such as a country, state or province, city, or administrative region, created to provi ...

of the

Althing The (; ), anglicised as Althingi or Althing, is the Parliamentary sovereignty, supreme Parliament, national parliament of Iceland. It is the oldest surviving parliament in the world. The Althing was founded in 930 at ('Thing (assembly), thing ...

, the national

legislature A legislature (, ) is a deliberative assembly with the legal authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country, nation or city on behalf of the people therein. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial power ...

Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...

. The constituency was established in 2003 when the existing Reykjavík constituency was split into two. The constituency currently elects nine of the 63 members of the Althing using the

open Open or OPEN may refer to: Music * Open (band), Australian pop/rock band * The Open (band), English indie rock band * ''Open'' (Blues Image album), 1969 * ''Open'' (Gerd Dudek, Buschi Niebergall, and Edward Vesala album), 1979 * ''Open'' (Go ...

party-list proportional representation Party-list proportional representation (list-PR) is a system of proportional representation based on preregistered Political party, political parties, with each party being Apportionment (politics), allocated a certain number of seats Apportionm ...

electoral system An electoral or voting system is a set of rules used to determine the results of an election. Electoral systems are used in politics to elect governments, while non-political elections may take place in business, nonprofit organizations and inf ...

. At the 2024 parliamentary election it had 47,600 registered electors.

History

In March 1843

King King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...

Christian VIII of Denmark Christian VIII (18 September 1786 – 20 January 1848) was King of Denmark from 1839 to 1848 and, as Christian Frederick, King of Norway in 1814. Christian Frederick was the eldest son of Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark, Hereditary Prin ...

issued a

royal decree A decree is a legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state, judge, royal figure, or other relevant authorities, according to certain procedures. These procedures are usually defined by the constitution, Legislative laws, or customary l ...

converting the

into a consultative assembly. It consisted to 20 members popularly elected from

single-member constituencies A single-member district or constituency is an electoral district represented by a single officeholder. It contrasts with a Multiwinner voting, multi-member district, which is represented by multiple officeholders. In some countries, such as ...

, one of which was

Reykjavík Reykjavík is the Capital city, capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland on the southern shore of Faxaflói, the Faxaflói Bay. With a latitude of 64°08′ N, the city is List of northernmost items, the worl ...

. In the subsequent decades the electoral process, size of Althing and constituencies changed several time. Reykjavík became a two-member constituency in 1903 (effective 1904). In 1920 (effective

1923 In Greece, this year contained only 352 days as 13 days was skipped to achieve the calendrical switch from Julian to Gregorian Calendar. It happened there that Wednesday, 15 February ''(Julian Calendar)'' was followed by Thursday, 1 March ' ...

) it became a four-member constituency using

proportional representation Proportional representation (PR) refers to any electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. The concept applies mainly to political divisions (Political party, political parties) amon ...

. It became a six-member constituency in

1934 Events January–February * January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established. * January 15 – The 8.0 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake, Nepal–Bihar earthquake strik ...

and an eight-member constituency in

1942 The Uppsala Conflict Data Program project estimates this to be the deadliest year in human history in terms of conflict deaths, placing the death toll at 4.62 million. However, the Correlates of War estimates that the prior year, 1941, was th ...

. One of the main reasons for the changes was the shift in population from rural to urban areas, particularly

. The changes however always lagged behind population shifts. This resulted in rural constituencies being over-represented in the Althing. The disproportionately in the voting power of rural and urban voters was as high as 10:1 by the mid 20th century. The over-representation of rural constituencies favoured the Progressive Party, whose support base was mostly farmers. The party was over-represented in Althing even after the introduction of

compensatory seat Leveling seats (, , , , ), commonly known also as adjustment seats, are an election mechanism employed for many years by all Nordic countries (except Finland) in elections for their national legislatures. Germany also used national leveling seats ...

s (equalisation seas) in 1934. The constituencies were radically altered in 1959 when the single and two-member constituencies were abolished and replaced by seven

constituencies using proportional representation. The number of seats allocated to Reykjavík was increased from 8 to 12 at the same time. This reduced the disproportionately in the voting power of rural and urban voters to 3:1. In September 1997

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Davíð Oddsson Davíð Oddsson (pronounced ; born 17 January 1948) is an Icelandic politician, and the longest-serving prime minister of Iceland, in office from 1991 to 2004. From 2004 to 2005 he served as Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Iceland), foreign minis ...

appointed a committee headed by Friðrik Klemenz Sophusson to review the division of constituencies in Iceland and the organisation of elections. The committee's report was published in October 1998 and recommended, amongst other things, that the number of constituencies be reduced and that they be more equal in population size. The Althing passed an

amendment An amendment is a formal or official change made to a law, contract, constitution, or other legal document. It is based on the verb to amend, which means to change for better. Amendments can add, remove, or update parts of these agreements. They ...

to the

constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed. When these pri ...

in June 1999 which removed the reference to specific eight constituencies contained within Article 31 and instead simply stated that there would be six or seven constituencies and that the Althing would determine the boundaries between the constituencies. The amendment also required that if, following an election to Althing, the number of registered electors per seat (including compensatory seats) in any constituency is less than half of that in another constituency, the National Electoral Commission shall change the allocation of seats so as to reduce the imbalance. This reduced the disproportionately in the voting power of rural and urban voters to 2:1. Reykjavík North was one of six constituencies () established by the "Elections to the Althing Act no. 24/2000" () passed by the Althing in May 2000. The Act required that, when an election to Althing had been called, the National Electoral Commission had to determine the boundaries between the Reykjavík North and Reykjavík South constituencies so that the number of registered electors per seat (including compensatory seats) is approximately the same. The Act initially allocated eleven seats to the constituency - nine constituency seats and two compensatory seats.

Electoral system

Reykjavík North currently elects nine of the 63 members of the Althing using the

. Constituency seats are allocated using the

D'Hondt method The D'Hondt method, also called the Jefferson method or the greatest divisors method, is an apportionment method for allocating seats in parliaments among federal states, or in proportional representation among political parties. It belongs to ...

. Compensatory seats (equalisation seas) are calculated based on the national vote and are allocated using the D'Hondt method at the constituency level. Only parties that reach the 5% national threshold compete for compensatory seats.

Election results

Summary

(Excludes compensatory seats.)

Detailed

2020s

=2024

= Results of the 2024 parliamentary election held on 30 November 2024: The following candidates were elected: * Constituency seats - Dagur B. Eggertsson (S), 7,181.25 votes; Diljá Mist Einarsdóttir (D), 4,845.25 votes; Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson (D), 6,247.00 votes; Hanna Katrín Friðriksson (C), 6,027.33 votes;

Kristrún Frostadóttir Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir (; born 12 May 1988) is an Icelandic politician and economist who has served as the prime minister of Iceland since December 2024, and is the current leader of the Social Democratic Alliance. She was elected to the ...

(S), 9,598.62 votes; Pawel Bartoszek (C), 4,944.83 votes; Ragnar Þór Ingólfsson (F), 4,387.67 votes; Sigríður Á. Andersen (M), 3,242.33 votes; and Þórður Snær Júlíusson (S), 7,185.75 votes. * Compensatory seats - Dagbjört Hákonardóttir (S), 6,237.62; and Grímur Grímsson (C), 4,029.67 votes.

=2021

= Results of the 2021 parliamentary election held on 25 September 2021: The following candidates were elected: * Constituency seats -

Ásmundur Einar Daðason Ásmundur Einar Daðason (born 29 October 1982) is an Icelandic politician. He served as a member of the Althing for the Northwest Constituency from 2009 to 2016, initially representing the Left-Green Movement (VG) and later the centrist Progre ...

(B), 4,322.33 votes; Diljá Mist Einarsdóttir (D), 5,466.75 votes; Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson (D), 7,269.50 votes; Halldóra Mogensen (P); 4,466.75 votes; Helga Vala Helgadóttir (S), 4,370.75 votes;

Katrín Jakobsdóttir Katrín Jakobsdóttir (; born 1 February 1976) is an Icelandic former politician who served as the prime minister of Iceland from December 2017 to April 2024 and was a member of the Althing for the Reykjavík North constituency from 2007 to 202 ...

(V), 5,592.75 votes; Steinunn Þóra Árnadóttir (V), 4,190.75 votes; Tómas A. Tómasson (F), 2,691.67 votes; and Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir (C), 2,703.00 votes. * Compensatory seats - Andrés Ingi Jónsson (P), 3,368.00 votes; and Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson (S). 3,323.00 votes.

2010s

=2017

= Results of the 2017 parliamentary election held on 28 October 2017: The following candidates were elected: * Constituency seats - Andrés Ingi Jónsson (V), 5,144.83 votes; Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir (D), 6,612.67 votes;

Birgir Ármannsson Birgir Ármannsson (born 12 June 1968) is a member of parliament of the Althing, the Icelandic parliament. He is a member of the Independence Party. He was educated at the University of Iceland and King's College London King's Col ...

(D), 5,418.00 votes; Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson (D), 7,991.17 votes; Helga Vala Helgadóttir (S), 4,542.67 votes; Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson (P), 4,878.75 votes;

(V), 7,723.83 votes; Steinunn Þóra Árnadóttir (V), 6,434.67 votes; and Þorsteinn Víglundsson (C), 2,994.33 votes. * Compensatory seats - Halldóra Mogensen (P); 3,637.50 votes; and Ólafur Ísleifsson (F), 2,539.33 votes.

=2016

= Results of the 2016 parliamentary election held on 29 October 2016: The following candidates were elected: * Constituency seats - Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir (D), 7,040.50 vtes;

(D), 5,690.00 votes;

Birgitta Jónsdóttir Birgitta Jónsdóttir (born 17 April 1967) is an Icelandic politician, anarchist, poet, and activist. She was a Member of the Althing (MP) for the Southwest Constituency from 2013 to 2017, representing the Pirate Party, having been elected at t ...

(P), 6,464.17 votes; Björn Leví Gunnarsson (P), 5,570.50 votes; Björt Ólafsdóttir (A), 2,655.33 votes; Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson (D), 8,390.33 votes;

(V), 7,315.33 votes; Steinunn Þóra Árnadóttir (V), 6,092.33 votes; and Þorsteinn Víglundsson (C), 4,011.67 votes. * Compensatory seats - Andrés Ingi Jónsson (V), 4,870.00 votes; and Halldóra Mogensen (P); 4,452.50 votes.

=2013

= Results of the 2013 parliamentary election held on 27 April 2013: The following candidates were elected: * Constituency seats - Árni Þór Sigurðsson (V), 4,054.3 votes;

(D), 5,439.0 votes; Björt Ólafsdóttir (A), 3,456.7 votes; Brynjar Níelsson (D), 6,719.5 votes; Frosti Sigurjónsson (B), 5,752.0 votes; Illugi Gunnarsson (D), 7,943.0 votes;

(V), 5,488.0 votes; Össur Skarphéðinsson (S), 4,888.0 votes; and Sigrún Magnúsdóttir (B), 4,234.5 votes. * Compensatory seats - Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson (Þ), 2,383.0 votes; and

Valgerður Bjarnadóttir Valgerður Bjarnadóttir (born 13 January 1950) is an Icelandic politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the peo ...

(S), 3,693.8 votes.

2000s

=2009

= Results of the 2009 parliamentary election held on 25 April 2009: The following candidates were elected: * Constituency seats - Árni Þór Sigurðsson (V), 6,827.0 votes; Helgi Hjörvar (S), 9,535.0 votes; Illugi Gunnarsson (D), 7,285.5 votes;

Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir (; born 4 October 1942) is an Icelandic politician, who served as prime minister of Iceland from 2009 to 2013. Elected as an MP from 1978 to 2013, she was appointed as Iceland's Minister of Social Affairs and Social ...

(S), 11,526.5 votes;

(V), 8,380.8 votes; Pétur Blöndal (D), 5,501.0 votes; Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson (B), 3,360.0 votes;

(S), 8,645.5 votes; and

Þráinn Bertelsson Þráinn Bertelsson (born 30 November 1944) is an Icelandic film director, writer, politician, journalist and newspaper editor. He moved into politics during the 2008–2012 Icelandic financial crisis, and was elected a member of the Althing i ...

(O), 3,050.3 votes. * Compensatory seats - Álfheiður Ingadóttir (V), 5,460.8 votes; and Steinunn Valdís Óskarsdóttir (S), 6,368.7 votes.

=2007

= Results of the 2007 parliamentary election held on 12 May 2007: The following candidates were elected: * Constituency seats - Árni Þór Sigurðsson (V), 4,405.5 votes; Guðfinna S. Bjarnadóttir (D), 11,121.7 votes; Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson (D), 12,575.4 votes; Helgi Hjörvar (S), 8,150.6 votes;

(S), 9,205.6 votes;

(V), 5,911.5 votes; Össur Skarphéðinsson (S), 10,071.4 votes; Pétur Blöndal (D), 9,410.5 votes; and Sigurður Kári Kristjánsson (D), 7,940.9 votes. * Compensatory seats - Ellert Schram (S), 6,162.6 votes; and Steinunn Valdís Óskarsdóttir (S), 7,119.1 votes.

=2003

= Results of the 2003 parliamentary election held on 10 May 2003: The following candidates were elected: * Constituency seats - Björn Bjarnason (D), 11,097.2 votes; Bryndís Hlöðversdóttir (S), 11,454.6 votes;

(D), 12,704.7 votes; Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson (D), 9,519.5 votes; Guðrún Ögmundsdóttir (S), 9,820.2 votes;

Halldór Ásgrímsson Halldór Ásgrímsson (pronounced ; 8 September 1947 – 18 May 2015) was an Icelandic politician, who served as prime minister of Iceland from 15 September 2004 to 15 June 2006 and was the leader of the Progressive Party from 1994 to 2006. Ed ...

(B), 4,181.5 votes; Helgi Hjörvar (S), 7,998.5 votes;

Kolbrún Halldórsdóttir Kolbrún Halldórsdóttir (born 31 July 1955) is the chairman of BHM (Iceland), BHM, the confederation of university graduates in Iceland. She is a former politician with the Left-Green Movement. She was a member of the Althing (Iceland's parlia ...

(U), 3,328.0 votes; and Össur Skarphéðinsson (S), 12,653.2 votes. * Compensatory seats - Árni Magnússon (B), 3,149.2 votes; and Sigurður Kári Kristjánsson (D), 7,982.1 votes.

Notes

References

{{Constituencies of Iceland 2003 establishments in Iceland Althing constituencies Constituencies established in 2003 Althing constituency, North