Municipal and county council election, persons entitled to vote, 2003, preliminary figures

There will be around 149 000 more persons entitled to vote in this autumns municipal-and county election than in the 2001 election. Fewer are entitled to vote in general than local elections, in which foreign citizens may participate provided they have resided in Norway for the last three years prior to Election Day. Nordic citizens can be entitled to vote if they are registered in the electoral roll within 31.05 in the election year.

More Norwegian citizens with immigrant background entitled to vote

A total of 111 200 Norwegian citizens with an immigrant background will have the right to vote in this years election, an increase of 27 400 persons since the local elections in 1999. These are persons with two foreign-born parents. The major groups of these voters are from Pakistan (11 400) and Vietnam (10 400). More than half of the voters with a European background come from East European countries.

38 per cent of persons with an immigrant background who are entitled to vote live in Oslo, more than half live in Oslo or Akershus. Norwegian citizens with an immigrant background comprise 10 per cent of all persons entitled to vote in Oslo.

More persons with Iraqi citizenship entitled to vote

Since the election in 1999 there has been an increase by 15 500 foreign citizens entitled to vote. The largest increase by the Iraq citizens, with 4 900 more. The second highest increase is the group with citizenship from Sri Lanka (1700). The group of German citizens entitled to vote has increased by 1200. In the same period there is a decrease by 2700 persons with citizens from Bosnia-Herzegovina. This decline is connected with Norwegian citizenships were granted. The major groups with foreign citizenship entitled to vote are Sweden, Denmark and Iraq. 38 per cent of the foreign citizens entitled to vote are coming from the Nordic countries. 32 500 foreign citizens entitled to vote live in Oslo, this account for 28 per cent of all foreign citizens entitled to vote.

106 200 first- time voters, fewer older voters

106 200 18 and 19-year-olds will be able to vote for the first time in this years election. There are also fewer older voters. The age-group 67 years and older, has decreased by 15 100 persons, since the last local election. This decrease is connected to the low birth rates in the middle of the1930's.

Norwegian citizens living abroad are automatically listed in the electoral roll if they have been living in Norway in the course of the last 10 years, and otherwise meet voter requirements. This year this group will number 39 900 persons.

Tables:

• Table 1 Municipal- and County Council Election 2003. Persons entitled to vote. Estimated Mars 2003
• Table 2 Municipal- and County Council Election. Foreign citizens 1991-2003 and norwegian citizens with immigrant background 1999-2003 , entitled to wote. Estimated Mars 2003
• Table 3 Municipal- and County Council Election 2003. Foreign citizens entitled to vote, by county. Estimated Mars 2003
• Table 4 Municipal- and County Council Election 2003. Foreign citizens entitled to vote. Selected municipalities. Estimated Mars 2003
• Table 5 Municipal- and County Council Election 2003. Norwegian citizens with immigrant background, entitled to vote, by county. Estimated Mars 2003
• Table 6 Municipal- and County Council Election 2003. Norwegian citizens with immigrant background, entitled to vote. Selected municipalities. Estimated Mars 2003