A Justice Ministry working group has proposed six fixed constituency seats in each of Iceland’s six electoral districts. The total number of seats would then be 36.
The remaining 27 of parliament’s 63 seats would become adjustment seats under the proposal, which is intended to make the weight of votes more equal across the country.
Six Fixed Seats Would Remain in Each Constituency Under Proposed Election-Law Overhaul
- Each of Iceland’s six constituencies would have six fixed seats, leaving 27 adjustment seats.
- The total number of MPs would remain 63.
- The proposals have been sent to Alþingi for consideration and are not yet law.
Seats Would Follow the Number of Registered Voters More Closely
The working group also proposes allocating seats among constituencies in proportion to the number of registered voters. The third change would revise the allocation of adjustment seats to constituency lists, with the aim of making the distribution more stable.
The group was led by Ólafur Þ. Harðarson, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Iceland, alongside statistics professor Sigrún Helga Lund and mathematician Þorkell Helgason.
Justice Minister Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir has sent the report to the Speaker of Alþingi and proposed forming a parliamentary committee to consider the recommendations. Any change to election law would still require parliamentary action.
The proposal comes after a busy election year. Iceland Review has covered the confirmation of constituency results, changes in the balance among Iceland’s political parties, and the August 29 EU referendum vote.
Source: Government of Iceland
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