Municipal and county council election, persons entitled to vote, 2007, preliminary figures

Roughly 280 000 persons with immigrant background are eligible to vote in the local election, an increase of 51 000 persons from the last election. In total, persons with an immigrant background comprise 7.7 per cent of the electorate. 137 000 of these are foreign citizens, whereas 142 000 are Norwegian citizens with immigrant background. We find the highest share of persons with immigrant background in Oslo. Among Norwegian citizens with immigrant background 87 per cent have a non-western background, the share is considerably lower among foreign citizens eligible to vote (58 percent).

There are noticeable differences between the different country backgrounds. Among those with Swedish and Danish background, only 10 and 20 per cent respectively are Norwegian citizens. Among the following largest groups, the Pakistani and the Vietnamese respectively 80 and 100 percent are Norwegian citizens. Compared with the election in 2003, the biggest increase (3 900 persons) is found among those with Somali background.

32 per cent of the immigrant population eligible to vote resides in Oslo, compared with 12 percent in the total population.

More people are entitled to vote

In Norway, 3 610 000 are entitled to vote in the local municipality elections, an increase of 100 000 compared to the last local municipality election in 2003. Compared with the last local election in 2003, there has been an increase of persons entitled to vote in near all counties, only exception is Sogn og Fjordane where there has been a small decline. In Oslo, the number of persons entitled to vote has rose by 4.9 per cent, while the numbers for Akershus and Rogaland are 4.8 and 4.9 per cent respectively.

There will be around 190 000 more persons entitled to vote in this autumn’s municipal-and county election than in the 2005 election.

More first-time voters

Compared with the 2003-election, 21 000 more 18-21 years olds are eligible to vote for the first time in the local election, correspondingly, there has been an increase in the number of old eligible voters. The number of persons 67 years and older has increased with 14 000 compared with the 2003-election.

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

Tables:

• Table 1 Municipal- and County Council Election 2007. Persons entitled to vote. Estimated February 2007 (Corrected 27 March 2007)
• Table 2 Municipal- and County Council Election. Foreign citizens 1995-2007 and norwegian citizens with immigrant background 2003-2007, entitled to wote. Estimated February 2007 (Corrected 27 March 2007)
• Table 3 Municipal- and County Council Election 2007. Foreign citizens entitled to vote. County. Estimated February 2007
• Table 4 Municipal- and County Council Election 2007. Foreign citizens entitled to vote. Selected municipalities. Estimated February 2007
• Table 5 Municipal- and County Council Election 2007. Norwegian citizens with immigrant background, entitled to vote. County. Estimated February 2007
• Table 6 Municipal- and County Council Election 2007. Norwegian citizens with immigrant background, entitled to vote. Selected municipalities. Estimated February 2007