In case of any discrepancies between the original text in Icelandic and the translation, only the original text as published in the Official Gazette of Iceland (Stjórnartíðindi) is authentic. Please note as well that amendments may have been made since the translations were prepared.

General Elections Act

2000 No. 24 (16 May)

Took effect 19 May 2000. Amended by: Act No. 15/2003 (took effect 26 March 2003); Act No. 50/2006 (took effect 1 July 2006); Act No. 162/2006 (took effect 1 Jan. 2007). Act No. 88/2008 (took effect 1 Jan. 2009 except Interim Provision VII, which took effect 21 June 2008);  Act No. 7/2009 (took effect 5 Mar. 2009, repealed 1 Dec. 2009); Act No. 16/2009 (took effect 20 Mar. 2009); Act No. 77/2010 (took effect 1 July 2010); Act No. 162/2010 (took effect 1 Jan. 2011); Act No. 126/2011 (took effect 30 Sept. 2011); Act No. 28/2012 (took effect 1 June 2012); Act No. 111/2012 (took effect 18 Oct. 2012); Act No. 117/2012 (took effect 30 Nov. 2012); Act No. 8/2013 (took effect 27 Feb. 2013); Act No. 115/2015 (took effect 16 Dec. 2015); Act No. 91/2016 (took effect 15 Sept. 2016); Act No. 79/2017 (took effect 30 Sept. 2017); Act No. 70/2018 (took effect 1 Sept. 2018); Act No. 141/2018 (took effect 1 Jan. 2019); Act No. 30/2020 (took effect 17 April 2020); Act No. 67/2021 (took effect 26 June 2021); Act No. 109/2021 (took effect 15 July 2021); Act No. 117/2021 (took effect 16 July 2021).



If in this Act ‘the minister’ or ‘the ministry’ is mentioned without further definition of, or reference to, the portfolio involved, this is a reference to the Minister of Justice or the Ministry of Justice, as they are responsible for the application of this Act. Information on the responsibilities of the government ministries, as determined by Presidential decrees, can be found here.

Chapter I. Right to vote and qualifications to stand for election

Art. 1  All Icelandic citizens who have reached the age of 18 at the time of a general election and who are domiciled in Iceland have the right to vote.
  Icelandic citizens who have reached the age of 18 and who have been domiciled in Iceland, have the right to vote:
  a. For eight years after transferring their domicile from Iceland, counting from 1 December prior to the date of the election.
  b. After the time referred to in indent a, providing they have applied for it in accordance with the further rules stated in Article 2.

Art. 2  Applications for the right to vote under indent b of the second paragraph of Article 1 shall be sent to [the National Registry] ¹⁾ on a form designed for this purpose stating the applicant’s name, ID number, date of moving from Iceland, last domicile in Iceland and address abroad. Applications shall also include a declaration by the applicant to the effect that he or she is still an Icelandic citizen. [The National Registry] ¹⁾ shall provide these application forms, which shall be available there and also in offices of Icelandic embassies and permanent missions, Icelandic consulates and in the offices of Icelandic honorary consuls. Applications received by [the National Registry] ¹⁾ more than one year prior to the expiry of the right according to indent a of the second paragraph of Article 1 shall not be granted. Where an application is satisfactory, [the National Registry] ¹⁾ shall inform the applicant and the relevant local authority of this. The decision to add an individual’s name to the electoral register in this manner shall be valid as from 1 December following submission of the application.
  These provisions shall apply in the same way regarding the renewal of the right to vote.
    ¹⁾Act No. 77/2010, Art. 5.

Art. 3  No person may exercise the right to vote unless his or her name is on the voters’ roll at the time of the election.

Art. 4 Any person who has the right to vote under Article and who is in possession of full civil rights may stand for election to the Althingi. Supreme Court Justices … ¹⁾ may not, however, stand for election.
    ¹⁾Act No. 16/2009, Art. 1.

Art. 5 [No one is considered to be in possession of full civil rights who has been sentenced for a criminal offence, if the punishment is a non-conditional term of imprisonment, from the date of pronouncement of sentence until the sentence has been served in full.] ^{1)
    1)}Act No. 141/2018, Art. 2.

Chapter II. Constituencies

Art. 6 Voters shall exercise their voting rights in their constituencies according to the rules and conditions laid down in this Act. Iceland is divided into the following constituencies:
  [1. The North-Western Constituency.
  This comprises the following local government areas: Akraneskaupstaður, [Hvalfjarðarsveit], ¹⁾ Skorradalshreppur, [Borgarbyggð], ¹⁾ Eyja- og Miklaholtshreppur, Snæfellsbær, Grundarfjarðarbær, Helgafellssveit, Stykkishólmsbær, Dalabyggð, … ¹⁾ Reykhólahreppur, Vesturbyggð, Tálknafjarðarhreppur, Bolungarvíkurkaupstaður, Ísafjarðarbær, Súðavíkurhreppur, Árneshreppur, Kaldrananeshreppur, [Strandabyggð], ¹⁾ … ²⁾ Húnaþing vestra, [Húnavatnshreppur], ¹⁾ Blönduósbær, … ¹⁾ Skagabyggð, [Sveitarfélagið Skagaströnd], ¹⁾ Sveitarfélagið Skagafjörður and Akrahreppur.
  2. The North-Eastern Constituency.
  This comprises the following local government areas: [Fjallabyggð], ¹⁾ … ²⁾ Dalvíkurbyggð, … ¹⁾ [Hörgársveit], ²⁾ [Akureyrarbær], ⁶⁾ Eyjafjarðarsveit, Svalbarðsstrandarhreppur, Grýtubakkahreppur, Þingeyjarsveit, Skútustaðahreppur, [Norðurþing], ¹⁾ Tjörneshreppur, … ¹⁾ Svalbarðshreppur, [Langanesbyggð], ¹⁾ Vopnafjarðarhreppur, [Fljótsdalshérað], ¹⁾ Fljótsdalshreppur, … ¹⁾ Borgarfjarðarhreppur, Seyðisfjarðarkaupstaður, Fjarðabyggð, … ¹⁾ … ⁶⁾ and Djúpavogshreppur.
  3. The Southern Constituency.
  This comprises the following local government areas: Sveitarfélagið Hornafjörður, Skaftárhreppur, Mýrdalshreppur, Rangárþing eystra, Rangárþing ytra, Ásahreppur, Vestmannaeyjabær, [Flóahreppur], ¹⁾ Sveitarfélagið Árborg, … ¹⁾ Skeiða- og Gnúpverjahreppur, Hrunamannahreppur, Bláskógabyggð, Grímsnes- og Grafningshreppur, Hveragerðisbær, Sveitarfélagið Ölfus, [Grindavíkurbær], ¹⁾ [Suðurnesjabær], ⁶⁾ Reykjanesbær and [Sveitarfélagið Vogar]. ¹⁾] ³⁾
  4. The South-Western Constituency.⁴⁾
  This comprises the following local government areas: Hafnarfjarðarkaupstaður, Garðabær, … ²⁾ Kópavogsbær, [Seltjarnarnesbær], ⁷⁾ Mosfellsbær and Kjósarhreppur.
  5.–6. Reykjavík South and North.⁶⁾
  Reykjavík shall be divided from west to east into two constituencies, Reykjavík South and Reykjavík North, as prescribed in Article 7.
 If the name or boundaries of a local government area are changed, or if two or more local government areas merge, the resulting local government area shall be considered as belonging to the constituency to which the older area, or areas, belonged.  If such a change would disturb a constituency boundary, then the constituency boundary shall remain unchanged.
    ¹⁾Act No. 16/2009, Art. 2. ²⁾Act No. 8/2013, Art.1. ³⁾Act No. 30/2020, Art. 2. ⁴⁾Act No. 67/2021, Art. 1. ⁵⁾Act No. 15/2003, Art. 1.  ⁶⁾See also Act No. 62/2001, altering the boundaries of the South-Western Constituency and the Reykjavík South and Reykjavík North constituencies, and Act No. 70/2003, altering the boundaries of the South-Western Constituency and the Reykjavík South constituency. ⁷⁾Act No. 91/2016, Art. 1.

Art. 7 When a general election has been called, the National Electoral Commission shall determine the constituency boundaries in Reykjavík with reference to the population register of the National Registry five weeks prior to election day (see the first paragraph of Article 23). The boundaries shall be determined so that the numbers of voters in each constituency behind each parliamentary seat, taking account of adjustment seats shall be more or less equal. Steps shall be taken to ensure, as far as possible, that each constituency forms a continuous whole.
  The National Electoral Commission shall advertise the constituency boundaries in the Government Gazette as soon as they have been determined, and not less than four weeks before election day. ^{1)
    1)} Advertisement No. 836/2017.

Art. 8 There are 63 parliamentary seats, divided as follows between the constituencies:

  The North-Western Constituency, the North-Eastern Constituency and the Southern Constituency shall each have nine constituency seats and one adjustment seat. The South-Western Constituency, Reykjavík North and Reykjavík South shall each have nine constituency seats and two adjustment seats.
  Notwithstanding the provisions of the first and second paragraphs, the National Electoral Commission may change the number of constituency seats in each constituency in accordance with Article 9.
    ¹⁾ Advertisement No. 944/2017.

Art. 9 After each general election, the National Electoral Commission shall calculate whether the number of voters on the electoral register behind each parliamentary seat, including the adjustment seats under the second paragraph of Article 8, amounts to half the number behind each parliamentary seat in any other constituency, according to the electoral register in the election that has just been held (cf. the fifth paragraph of Article 31 of the Constitution). If this is the case, then the National Electoral Commission shall change the number of constituency seats in the constituencies so as to reduce this difference. However, such a change may never be greater than is necessary at any given time to meet the requirements of this constitutional provision.
  [When calculations are made according to the first paragraph, the first consideration shall be the number of parliamentary seats in the constituencies under the first paragraph of Article 8. If the conditions of the first paragraph are met, one constituency seat shall be transferred from the constituency which has the smallest number of voters behind each parliamentary seat to the constituency that has the highest number of voters behind each parliamentary seat. When this has been done, the number of voters behind each MP (member of parliament) shall be calculated anew, taking this change into account, and constituency seats shall be transferred between constituencies as often as necessary until the proportion of voters behind each parliamentary seat nowhere exceeds the limit specified in the first paragraph.] ¹⁾
  The National Electoral Commission shall advertise the change in the Government Gazette as soon as it has been made. ²⁾
  The National Electoral Commission’s authorisation to change the number of MPs in constituencies under this Article shall nevertheless extend only to those constituency seats that are in excess of the constitutionally-prescribed minimum (cf. the third paragraph of Article 31 of the Constitution).
    ¹⁾Act No. 16/2009, Art. 3. ²⁾ Advertisement No. 944/2017.

Chapter III. Polling wards

Art. 10  Each constituency shall be divided into polling wards; each local government area shall constitute one polling ward unless the local authority decides to divide it into more polling wards.
  Polling wards shall normally be named after the polling stations, or else shall be numbered so as to distinguish between them.

Chapter IV. Electoral commissions

Art. 11  There shall be three types of electoral commission for general elections:
  a. The National Electoral Commission.
  b. Senior electoral commissions [and regional electoral commissions (see the third paragraph of Article 13).] ¹⁾
  c. Local electoral commissions and other municipal electoral commissions (see the second paragraph of Article 15).
    ¹⁾Act No. 15/2003, Art. 2.

Art. 12  After each general election, the Althingi shall elect a five-man National Electoral Commission, with the same number of alternate members. The National Electoral Commission shall choose its own chairman and allocate other tasks and responsibilities between its members. [If a political platform that is represented in the Althingi does not have an elected representative on the National Electoral Commission, it shall be permitted to nominate an observer to sit on the commission, and another as an alternate. Observers shall have the same rights as elected members, apart from the right to vote.] ^{1)
    1)}Act No. 117/2012, Art. 1.

Art. 13 There shall be a senior electoral commission in each constituency. This shall consist of five persons and the same number of alternates, elected by the Althingi in the same way as the National Electoral Commission. The senior electoral commission shall choose its own chairman. [If a political platform that is represented in the Althingi does not have an elected representative on the senior electoral commission, it shall be permitted to nominate an observer to sit on the commission, and another as an alternate. Observers shall have the same rights as elected members, apart from the right to vote.] ¹⁾
  The senior electoral commission shall, with sufficient notice prior to the general election, advertise the location where it will receive lists of candidates and where it will be based during the election; its base shall be in the most accessible location possible with regard to traffic and transport.
  [A senior electoral commission may decide that there is to be a regional electoral commission in the constituency, and shall then decide the area it is to cover. The regional electoral commission shall be elected by the senior electoral commission and shall consist of three members, with the same number of alternates. The regional electoral commission shall choose its own chairman. In special circumstances, the minister may grant permission for two regional electoral commissions in each constituency, which shall be elected in the same way.] ^{2)
    1)}Act No. 117/2012, Art. 2. ²⁾Act No. 15/2003, Art. 3.

Art. 14 If a member of the National Electoral Commission or senior electoral commission becomes unable to discharge his or her duties and no alternate is available, the minister shall appoint persons in their stead in accordance with recommendations from the organisation that elected them in the Althingi.

Art. 15 There shall be a local electoral commission in each polling ward, consisting of three persons elected by the local authority, with the same number of alternates.
  In local government areas where there is more than one polling ward, the local authority may elect a special three-man electoral commission to supervise the work of the local electoral commissions. Where there is more than one polling ward at the same polling station, the local authority shall elect a three-man [district electoral commission] ¹⁾ to supervise the local electoral commissions at the polling station. Where there is more than one polling station, the local authority shall, in the same way, elect a special senior electoral commission for the local government area. With the approval of the senior electoral commissions of the Reykjavík constituencies, the city council may determine that those electoral commissions are to exercise the functions of a senior electoral commission, each in its own constituency. These electoral commissions shall at all times be prepared to attend meetings on election day, without prior notice, meetings to take decisions and make rulings in connection with the election if necessary.
  Electoral commissions shall be elected at the first meeting of newly elected local authorities for terms of four years. Where electoral commissions are elected under the second paragraph, the local authority may defer the election of local and district electoral commissions so that they will be elected for terms of one year prior to each general election. Local authorities may also defer the election of one or more alternate commission members. Electoral commissions shall elect their chairmen and divide other functions and responsibilities between their members.
    ¹⁾Act No. 16/2009, Art. 4.

Art. 16 Members of electoral commissions shall vacate their seats if they stand for election to the Althingi.
  Members of electoral commissions shall also vacate their seats if cases are subject to adjudication involving their spouses or persons related to them by blood or marriage in a direct line of descent or as uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces or first cousins, or persons who are related to them in the same way as a result of adoption.

Art. 17 Alternates shall take seats on electoral commissions when principal members are unable to exercise their functions in accordance with the ordinary rules when proportional voting is applied, or else in the order in which they are elected or appointed. If an electoral commission cannot be filled by this means, the commission itself shall co-opt the person or persons needed in order to complete its numbers.

Art. 18 To take a seat on an electoral commission is a civic duty.
  [The minister] ¹⁾ shall determine remuneration [for work done for, or service on,] ²⁾ the National Electoral Commission, [senior electoral commissions and regional electoral commissions]; ³⁾ local authorities shall determine remuneration [for work done for, or service on,] ²⁾  local electoral commissions and electoral commissions under the second paragraph of Article 15.
    ¹⁾Act No. 126/2011, Art. 298. ²⁾Act No. 117/2012, Art.3. ³⁾Act No. 15/2003, Art. 4.

Art. 19 All electoral commissions shall keep minutes books and record their actions. In a local government area where a senior electoral commission is elected in accordance with Article 15, it may be decided that the local electoral commissions are to use special forms instead of minutes books.
  The National Electoral Commission shall record its decisions on constituency boundaries under Article 7, on changes in the number of MPs for each constituency under Article 9, on political organisations and candidatures, on the reception of election materials, on the total votes gathered by political organisations, on the allocation of parliamentary seats, etc. Senior electoral commissions shall record the reception of candidatures, their submission to the National Electoral Commission and re-reception, the dispatch and reception of ballot papers and letters, rulings of all types, vote counts, election results and other similar matters. Local electoral commissions [and, as appropriate, regional electoral commissions] ¹⁾ shall record everything that is prescribed in this Act and that is of significance regarding the conduct of the election.
  [The ministry] ²⁾ shall provide and confer official legal status on the minute books of the National Electoral Commission, [the senior electoral commissions and, as appropriate, the regional electoral commissions]. ¹⁾ Senior electoral commissions shall provide, and confer official legal status on, the minute books of the local electoral commissions.
  [The ministry] ²⁾ shall provide electoral commissions with official seals.
    ¹⁾L. 15/2003, 5. gr.  ²⁾L. 162/2010, 162. gr.

Chapter V.  Election day

Art. 20 Ordinary regular general elections shall be held no later than at the end of the electoral term. The beginning and end of an electoral term shall be the same weekday of the month, counting from the beginning of the month, even though individual elections may not have been held on that day.
  [The ministry] ¹⁾ shall advertise when ordinary regular general elections are to be held.
  The electoral term is four years.
    ¹⁾L. 162/2010, 162. gr.

Art. 21 If the Althingi has been dissolved, the President of Iceland shall decide the date of the election.

Chapter VI. Voters’ rolls

Art. 22 When a general election has been called, the local authorities shall draw up voters’ rolls on the basis of electoral register databases provided by [the National Registry]. ¹⁾ 
  [The National Registry may process personal data when producing electoral register databases, providing it meets the requirements of the Data Protection Act applying at any given time.] ^{2)
    1)}Act No. 77/2010, Art. 5. ²⁾Act No. 70/2018, Art. 9.

Art. 23 The following shall be included on the voters’ roll:
  a. Those who fulfil the conditions of paragraph 1 of Article 1 and who had their domicile in the relevant local government area according to the population register of the National Registry five weeks prior to the election day.
  b. Those who meet the conditions of the second paragraph of Article 1 (cf. Article 2) and whose last registered domicile in Iceland was in the local government area.
 Those who are to be included on the voters’ roll for Reykjavík under indent b of the first paragraph shall be divided between the Reykjavík South and Reykjavík North constituencies in accordance with Article 7. Those who were born in the first half of each month shall be included in the Reykjavík South constituency and those born in the second half of each month in the Reykjavík North constituency. The National Electoral Commission shall determine where the boundary is to lie each month (cf. the first paragraph of Article 7). The same rule shall apply to those who, under indent a of the first paragraph, are registered in Reykjavík with an unspecified address.

Art. 24 Voters’ rolls shall be written on forms supplied by [the National Registry]; ¹⁾ the instructions it gives on them shall be followed in detail.
When the voters’ roll has been drawn up, it shall be signed by the chairman of the local authority or the [executive manager of the local government area]. ^{2)
    1)}Act No. 77/2010, Art. 5. ²⁾Act No. 15/2003, Art. 6.

Art. 25 [The ministry] ¹⁾ shall, not later than twelve days before election day, publish on the State Broadcasting Service (radio and television) and in the daily newspapers, an advertisement stating that voters’ rolls have been presented for inspection. The advertisement shall state that those who wish to make complaints regarding the voters’ rolls are to submit them to the local authority in question.
    ¹⁾Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162.

Art. 26 Voters’ rolls shall be displayed for inspection by the public in municipal offices or other suitable locations not less than ten days prior to election day.
  Local authorities shall advertise where the voters’ roll is to be displayed in the manner in which it is traditional to publish official announcements in each locality.
  When the voters’ roll has been presented, it shall remain on display during normal office hours until election day. A certified copy of the voters’ roll may be used for presentation.

Art. 27 Local authorities shall give attention to complaints that are submitted to them concerning voters’ rolls and make the appropriate corrections accordingly. Such corrections may be made up to election day.
  If a complaint is received claiming that a person’s name should be removed from the voters’ roll, the person concerned shall be informed of this. If a complaint is received calling for the inclusion on the voters’ roll of a person who may be assumed to have been included on the voters’ roll in another local government area, the relevant local authority shall be informed of this immediately. The person in question shall be given a deadline, taking account of the time available and other circumstances, by which to lodge objections. In the event of a dispute regarding the matter, a ruling shall be recorded in a few words in the local authority’s minutes book.
  A voters’ roll may not be amended to take account of a person’s new domicile unless the change of domicile took place at least five weeks prior to election day and a notification of the new domicile has been sumitted to [the National Registry] ¹⁾ for registration by the same date, or if an application under indent b of the second paragraph of Article 1 for inclusion on the voters’ roll was not received by [the National Registry] ¹⁾ by 1 December preceding election day.
  Local authorities shall, furthermore, correct voters’ rolls up to election day if they receive information concerning deaths or the acquisition or, as appropriate, loss by persons of Icelandic citizenship.
    ¹⁾Act No. 77/2010, Art. 5.

Art. 28 Local authorities shall inform those involved immediately of corrections made to voters’ rolls under Article 27, and also any local authority affected by the change.
  Local authorities shall also inform the electoral commission involved, and also the chairman of the senior electoral commission, of corrections made to the voters’ roll.

Art. 29 Where a voters’ roll has not been drawn up or presented at the proper time, or where the provisions of this Act have not been observed concerning it, the district commissioner shall, as soon as he or she becomes aware of this, take the necessary measures to ensure that the voters’ roll is drawn up without delay and any shortfall regarding procedure under the law is rectified.

[Art. 29 a Those political organisations that submit candidate lists in general elections may obtain access to the electoral register through the National Registry. Access shall be granted free of charge, as shall other materials that may be specified in regulations. Access may be used for the purpose of monitoring the conduct of elections, to verify the identity of voters and to convey information to them in the run-up to an election. Publication of the electoral register, or any information derived from it, or making it available to other entities, is prohibited. When processing personal data under this provision, political organisations shall comply with the conditions of the Personal Data Act.
 After receiving proposals from the National Electoral Commission, the Minister shall issue regulations setting out more detailed provisions authorising the use of information from the electoral register as provided for in the first paragraph, how they may treat the electoral register and the closure of access to it.] ^{1) 
    1)}Act No. 109/2021, Art. 15.   

Chapter VII. Candidature

Art. 30 When a general election is to be held, all candidatures shall be announced ... ¹⁾ to the relevant senior electoral commission not later than by 12 noon 15 days before election day. Announcements may be signed by hand or bear fully valid electronic signatures.] ¹⁾
  In all instances of candidature, care shall be taken to state clearly candidates’ names, ID numbers, positions or professional designations and addresses so that there can be no doubt who is standing for election.
    ¹⁾Act No. 67/2021, Art. 2.
Art. 31 Candidate lists shall carry the names of twice as many candidates as there are parliamentary seats in the constituency, neither more nor fewer.
Art. 32 Each candidate list shall be accompanied by a ... ¹⁾ declaration by all those who are on the list stating that they gave their permission to place their names on the list. Candidate lists shall also be accompanied by ... ¹⁾ declarations of support for the list from voters in the relevant constituency. Sponsors’ names, ID numbers and addresses shall be stated. The number of sponsors shall be a multiple of the number of parliamentary seats in the constituency and the figures 30 (minimum) and 40 (maximum).
  ‘Political organisations’ in this Act refers to organisations which put up, or have put up, candidates in general elections. Each candidate list shall be accompanied by a ... ¹⁾ declaration by its sponsors stating the political organisation for which it is put forward. All lists put forward for the same political organisation shall be counted together when adjustment seats are allocated under Article 108. If the aforementioned declaration is lacking, the list will be regarded as a separate candidature.
  If the person who determines a candidate list, or confirms it finally in accordance with the rules of a political organisation, raises an objection against the list being entered in the election on behalf of that political organisation, a ruling shall be delivered stating that such a candidate list is not considered as being entered on behalf of that organisation.
  [Candidates’ declarations stating that they gave permission for the inclusion of their names on candidate lists may signed by hand or bear fully valid electronic signatures. The gathering of sponsors’ declarations of support for candidate lists, and statements of the political organisations for which candidate lists are submitted, may be carried out in writing or electronically. The National Registry may, at the request of a senior electoral commission, link data from lists of sponsors with the National Register, providing that the conditions of the Data Protection Act are met, and check whether a specific person has the right to vote. Furthermore, the National Registry shall grant senior electoral commissions electronic access to the lists. 
  The Minister shall, after receiving the comments of the National Electoral Commission and the senior electoral commissions, issue a regulation on the form of announcements under the first paragraph of Article 30, the gathering of sponsors’ declarations and the declarations of those who are on candidate lists in accordance with the first, second and fourth paragraphs, letters allocated to candidate lists and the gathering of sponsors’ declarations in connection with them under [Article 37a].²⁾ Provisions shall be made in the regulation on, amongst other things, forms and interfaces, the collection and handling of personal data, the preservation and deletion of declarations and announcements and type of electronic identification, where appropriate.] ^{1)
    1)}Act No. 670/2021, Art. 3. ²⁾Act No. 1170/2021, Art. 3.
Art. 33 No persons may stand on more than one candidate list in the same general election.
  No single voter may support, as a sponsor, more than one candidate list in the same general election.
Art. 34 If a list with more names than prescribed is submitted to a senior electoral commission, then the last names on the list exceeding the correct number of names shall be removed.
  If a senior electoral commission receives a list including the name of a person without that person’s  ... ¹⁾ permission for inclusion accompanying the list, or if a person has given  ... ¹⁾ permission for the inclusion of his or her name on more than one list, the senior electoral commission shall delete that person’s name from the list or lists.
   ... ^{1) 
    1)}Act No. 67/2021, Art. 4.
Art. 35 Candidates may cancel their consent to stand as candidates until the deadline for submitting candidatures.
  Voters who have sponsored a candidate list may not retract their declaration of support after the candidature has been submitted to the senior electoral commission.
Art. 36 It shall not be necessary to demonstrate to senior electoral commissions or the National Electoral Commission candidates’ qualifications to stand for election, as the Althingi rules on the qualifications of those who are elected and also on whether, in other respects, newly-elected MPs stood, and were elected, lawfully.
Art. 37 If a candidate dies before the election is held but after the deadline for announcing candidatures has passed, or in the three days preceding expiry of the deadline for announcing candidatures, another person may be substituted for the deceased person on the candidate list within one week, if fully one half of the sponsors of the list so demand and providing that other general conditions regarding the candidature are met.

[Chapter VII A. Letters of the alphabet allocated to lists of the political organisations.]¹⁾

     ¹⁾Act No. 117/2021, Art. 5.

[Art. 37a The ministry shall maintain a register of the letters of the alphabet allocated to candidate lists of those political organisations that put forward lists in the last general election. This register shall be published in an advertisement not later than eight weeks prior to each ordinary general election. If a general election is called at such short notice that this cannot be done, then the advertisement shall be published within three days of the calling of the election.
 If a political organisation that does not have a registered letter of the alphabet for its candidate list in accordance with the first paragraph intends to put forward a list in a general election, it shall apply for a letter for its list not later than three days before the deadline for submitting candidatures. The announcement shall be accompanied by a declaration by at least 300 voters stating their support for the name of the organisation and for its candidate list letter. This declaration shall be dated, with each sponsor’s name, ID number and address stated. The gathering of sponsors’ declarations and applications for candidate list letters may be carried out in writing or electronically. The National Registry may, at the request of the ministry, link data from lists of sponsors with the National Register, providing that the conditions of the Data Protection Act are met, and check whether a specific person has the right to vote and, when this has been done, deliver that information to the ministry. The names of new political organisations may not be such as to be likely to be confused with those of organisations that are on the register under the first paragraph. The ministry shall immediately inform those political organisations that are on the register of the new political organisations and their requests for letters of the alphabet for their lists. The ministry shall decide on letters for the new organisations after receiving their wishes and in the light of the letters allocated to other political organisations in the previous election. If an organisation which is registered wishes to change its name, it shall inform the ministry of this by the same deadline.
 Amendments to the ministry’s advertisement, and to appendices to it, shall be published immediately in the form of an advertisement, and shall be reported to the National Electoral Commission and the senior electoral commissions.]^{1)
    1)}Act No. 117/2021, Art. 5.

Chapter VIII.
… 

    ¹⁾Act No. 109/2021, Art. 15.

Chapter IX. Agents.

Art. 39 Each candidate list shall be accompanied by a ... ¹⁾ declaration by the candidates on the list to the senior electoral commission indicating which two persons are the agents for the list. [The senior electoral commission shall be informed of the identity of the agents in a verifiable manner.]¹⁾ If the agents for the list are not identified, or if they are prevented by necessity from fulfilling their role, then the candidates in the leading seats on the list shall be regarded as the lawful agents for the list. These agents shall defend the rights of the list they represent when the list is examined or when rulings are delivered concerning it. They shall provide such information concerning the lists as the senior electoral commission may request. They shall be permitted to be present, or to grant a power of attorney to other persons to be present, at polling at individual polling stations and at the counting of votes. Agents shall be obliged to obey the rules on meetings that are set by the electoral commission.
    ¹⁾Act No. 67/2021, Art. 6.

Art. 40 Each of the political organisations that have put forward candidates shall have the right to have two agents present when the National Electoral Commission delivers rulings under Article 44 regarding the political organisations with which the candidate lists submitted are to be associated, and also at all the work done by the National Electoral Commission connected with the allocation of parliamentary seats.
  In the event of a dispute concerning whether or not a candidate list is to be considered as being associated with the political organisation that its sponsors wish, the National Electoral Commission shall grant the sponsors an opportunity to appoint special agents to defend their interests while the dispute is being resolved.

Chapter X. Rulings on candidature; advertising.

Art. 41 When the deadline decided for submitting candidatures has passed, the senior electoral commission shall hold a meeting the following day which the agents for the candidate lists shall be given an opportunity to attend. If there are then found to be defects in the candidate lists, the relevant agents shall be given an opportunity to correct them; a deadline may be set for this, as time and circumstances allow. If defects pointed out by the senior electoral commission are not corrected by the deadline set, it shall deliver a ruling as to whether the candidate list is therefore to be considered invalid. If opinion within the senior electoral commission is divided with respect to a ruling, the issue shall be decided by majority vote.

Art. 42 If a candidate list is ruled invalid, a transcript of the ruling shall immediately be delivered to the relevant agent or agents, together with a transcript of the list that has been rejected.
  Agents may appeal to the National Electoral Commission against rulings by a senior electoral commission within 24 hours of their being delivered.

Art. 43 When the senior electoral commission has delivered a ruling concerning a candidate list, it shall mark the list of the political organisation with a letter of the alphabet in accordance with [the ministry’s] ¹⁾ advertisement concerning the letter applying to it (cf. [Article 37a]²⁾).
 If a political organisation has more than one list in the same constituency, they shall be marked A, AA …, B, BB …, etc., as appropriate.
    ¹⁾Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162.  ²⁾Act No. 117/2021, Art. 5.

Art. 44 As soon as the senior electoral commission has completed marking candidate lists it shall send them to the National Electoral Commission with all accompanying documents (cf. Article 32). The National Electoral Commission shall then immediately examine them and shall rule, if necessary, as to the political organisations associated with the candidate lists that have been entered for the election. The National Electoral Commission shall also ensure that lists that should belong together (cf. Article 32), are marked with the same letter in all constituencies. Agents of the political organisations shall have an opportunity to be present when the National Electoral Commission convenes for this purpose (cf. Article 40).
  When the National Electoral Commission has received materials from all senior electoral commissions and has processed the lists in this manner, it shall immediately announce the lists to the public by means of advertisements in the Government Gazette and in newspapers. Advertisements shall specify the letter of the alphabet for each list, the political organisation for which it is put forth, and the names of the candidates in each list in the correct order, their position or title, and domicile. At the same time the National Electoral Commission shall announce, by publishing an advertisement on the State Broadcasting Service (radio and television), the letter of the alphabet applying to each list and for which political organisation the list has been put forward. These advertisements shall be published no later than ten days prior to election day.
  The National Electoral Commission shall then return the lists to the senior electoral commissions together with a report on its handling of them. At the same time, the National Electoral Commission shall send the lists, as they were published, to [the ministry]. ^{1) 
    1)}Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162.

Art. 45 If a candidate dies and another candidate announces his or her candidature instead in accordance with the authorisation in Article 37 and in compliance with its conditions, the relevant senior electoral commission shall report this without delay to the National Electoral Commission and to [the ministry]. ¹⁾ The National Electoral Commission shall publish the list, with this amendment, in the Government Gazette and in newspapers (cf. the second paragraph of Article 44). At the same time, the National Electoral Commission shall publish an advertisement on the National Broadcasting Service (radio) regarding the amendment.
    ¹⁾Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162.

Chapter XI. Voting materials.

Art. 46 [The ministry] ¹⁾ shall supply voting materials for pre-election voting. It shall also provide instructions on how voting is to take place. These voting materials shall normally be available from those persons who are in charge of pre-election voting. District commissioners shall be in charge of providing voting materials to the chairmen of local councils and to the captains of ships sailing abroad and on distant fishing grounds (cf. Article 60) and [the ministry in charge of matters concerning Iceland’s embassies, permanent missions and consulates abroad] ²⁾  shall see to supplying voting materials to election managers abroad.
  Election managers shall keep voting materials in a safe place.
    ¹⁾Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162. ²⁾Act No. 126/2011, Art. 298.

Art. 47 Voting materials for pre-election voting comprise: a ballot paper, an envelope for the ballot paper, a covering letter and a postal envelope, and also stamps bearing the letters of the alphabet representing the various candidate lists.
  Texts printed on ballot papers and ballot paper envelopes shall indicate that they are ballot papers and ballot paper envelopes. Covering letters and postal envelopes shall be designed so that the information prescribed in this Act can easily be written on them.
  [The ministry] ¹⁾ shall issue further provisions on the design of these voting materials.
    ¹⁾Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162.

Art. 48 Vessel captains, who function as election managers for pre-election voting, shall ensure that their vessels carry adequate supplies of voting materials for pre-election voting in all general elections.
  Furthermore, captains of Icelandic vessels shall be obliged, when an ordinary general election, or a repeat election, is called, to inform their crews of the date of the election as soon as they are aware of it.

Art. 49 Vessel captains who receive materials for pre-election voting shall sign and deliver to the appropriate district commissioner declarations on their word of honour stating that elections held on their vessels will proceed in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
  Special election managers as provided for in the second paragraph of Article 59 who receive materials for pre-election voting shall also sign and deliver the same sort of declaration to [the ministry responsible for matters concerning Icelandic embassies, permanent missions and consulates abroad]. ^{1) 
    1)}Act No. 126/2011, Art. 298.

Art. 50 [The ministry] ¹⁾ shall have ballot papers prepared for use in voting at polling sessions when the announcement has been received from the National Electoral Commission in accordance with the third paragraph of Article 44.
  Ballot papers shall be made of quality paper through which print or writing does not show, weighing at least 125 g/m². The colour of ballot papers shall be changed for each general election.
    ¹⁾Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162.

Art. 51 At general elections, and repeat elections held in connection with them, polling shall not be dispensed with even if only one candidate list has been put forward.

Art. 52 Ballot papers to be used at polling sessions shall be prepared as follows: The candidate lists shall be printed side by side, in the order of their alphabetical letters; each list shall be allocated a space approximately 6 cm wide, taking into account the full lawful number of candidates. [If more than seventeen candidate lists have been put forward, the lists shall be printed in horizontal rows. Care shall be taken to ensure that there is as close as possible to the same number of lists in each row.] ¹⁾ [In front of the alphabetical letter of each list, which shall be large and clear and stand above the centre of the list, a square box shall be printed. The names of the candidates on the lest shall appear below the letter, in the correct order, together with their position or professional designation and address, if this is considered necessary, to identify them.] ²⁾ The lists shall be separated by vertical lines printed in bold; there shall be a space at least ¹/ 2 cm broad in front of the names on each list.
  The name of the political organisation for which each list is put forward shall be stated; this shall be done by printing, in clear type, beneath the list’s alphabetical letter, but above the names of the candidates: List of ... (name of the political organisation).
    ¹⁾Act No. 8/2013, Art. 2. ²⁾Act No. 15/2003, Art. 7.

Art. 53 Ballot papers shall be folded so that the blank side faces outwards.
  Only sufficient numbers of ballot papers shall be prepared for sending to the local electoral commissions; senior electoral commissions shall ensure that unauthorised persons do not see the ballot papers before they send them.

Art. 54 Ballot papers shall normally be prepared not later than seven days before election day, and  [the ministry] ¹⁾ shall send them immediately to the senior electoral commission.
 The senior electoral commission shall then send to each local electoral commission, by secure means, as many ballot papers as there are voters on the voters’ roll in their wards, plus at least 10% extra papers. Where special electoral commissions are elected in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 15, ballot papers may be delivered to them without being divided into batches for each electoral ward; they shall then see to the delivery of ballot papers to the local electoral commissions.
  Ballot papers shall be sent in quality packaging, which the senior electoral commission shall seal using its official seal in such a secure manner that it is not possible to open the packaging and remove ballot papers without breaking the seal.
  When votes are counted, senior electoral commissions shall account for ballot papers that were not sent to the local electoral commissions.
    ¹⁾Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162.

Art. 55 When senior electoral commissions send ballot papers to local electoral commissions, they shall include Braille cards (cf. the second paragraph of Article 81) with each consignment, and also an announcement of the candidate lists, directions on the conduct of the election and an off-print of this Act (cf. Article 77).
  The consignment shall also include strong envelopes printed with the address of the senior electoral commission [or, as appropriate, the regional electoral commission]. ¹⁾ Each local electoral commission shall be given six envelopes; in the lower front corner of two of these shall be printed ‘Spoiled ballots’; on two shall be printed ‘Disputed ballots’ and on two ‘Left-over ballots.’
  These envelopes shall be sufficiently large so that all ballot papers of these types can fit into one envelope; the others shall be spares. In addition, the senior electoral commission shall supply a large and strong envelope with its address [or, as appropriate, that of the regional electoral commission] ¹⁾ printed on it, with the name of the electoral ward in the upper front corner; the other envelopes shall be placed inside this envelope. Senior electoral commissions shall also send to each local electoral commission a certified election logbook for use in the election, if it does not already possess it, or the appropriate forms (cf. the first paragraph of Article 19).
  [Senior electoral commissions shall also send local election commissions the appropriate envelopes (see the second and third paragraphs) as required. ^{1)
    1)}Act No. 15/2003, Art. 8.

Chapter XII.  Pre-election voting

Art. 56 Voters who are unable to attend polling sessions on election day may cast their votes prior to the election in accordance with the rules set in this Act.

Art. 57 Pre-election voting shall commence as soon as possible after the election date has been advertised, but not earlier than eight weeks before election day. After that time, and until the election date, voters shall have the right to cast their votes outside the regular polling session. Their votes are considered as having been cast on the days on which the covering letters are dated.

Art. 58 Pre-election voting shall be held at the following places:
  a. At district commissioners’ offices (main offices and branch offices). District commissioners may decide that pre-election voting at the official address of the commission shall take place at a special location outside the main office, and also that voting shall take place at other locations in their administrative areas. Commissioners shall decide [who ...] ¹⁾ shall be the election managers and shall engage other representatives for these tasks.
  b. At the offices of the chairmen of local councils, or at their homes.
  Voters who are undergoing treatment in a hospital, or are resident there, [or are residents in old people’s homes or] ¹⁾ institutions for [disabled persons], ²⁾ may vote in their institutions. The same shall apply to prisons and their inmates.
  Voters who are unable to attend a polling session on election day due to illness, disability or childbirth, may cast their votes in a private home, unless they are able to vote in an institution under the second paragraph. Requests for permission to vote in a private home shall be in submitted in writing and shall be supported by a certificate from a legally-competent person regarding the voter’s circumstances; these shall have been received by the relevant election manager not later than [10 a.m. two days]¹⁾ prior to election day. The election manager may appoint two representatives in his or her stead to supervise the casting of the vote by the voter.
  Election managers shall advertise where and when voting may take place, this being done in the way in which official announcements are customarily published in each given locality. The procedure and polling hours shall be such as to enable voting to go ahead smoothly. Polling under the second paragraph shall take place during a time decided by the electoral manager; in a hospital as near as possible to election day, following consultation with the management of the institution.
  [The ministry] ³⁾ shall set further rules ⁴⁾ on polling procedures under the second and third paragraphs. Such polling may not, however, take place until three weeks preceding election day. The agents for the candidate lists (cf. Article 39) shall be informed of when polling under the second paragraph is to take place.
    ¹⁾Act No. 67/2021, Art. 7. ²⁾Act No. 28/2012, Art. 9. ³⁾Act No. 115/2015, Art. 7. ⁴⁾Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162. ⁵⁾ Directions No. 820/2017.

Art. 59 [Pre-election voting abroad shall take place in the offices of Icelandic embassies or permanent missions to international organisations, in consulates or the offices of honorary consuls, in accordance with further decisions taken by the ministry involved. The same ministry may also decide that voting is to take place at other locations abroad.
  The following shall be electoral managers for polling abroad: the heads of embassies and permanent missions; career consuls; other diplomats as decided by the relevant head and other employees of embassies, permanent missions and consulates in accordance with the decision of the relevant mission (cf. the first paragraph); honorary consuls in accordance with further decisions by the relevant ministry (cf. the first paragraph) and special electoral managers nominated by the relevant ministry (cf. the first paragraph).
  The relevant ministry (cf. the first paragraph) shall advertise where and when polling may take place abroad.] ^{1)
    1)}Act No. 126/2011, Art. 298.

Art. 60 Voters who are crew members or passengers on Icelandic vessels sailing abroad or on remote fishing grounds may vote on board the vessels.
  The captain, or a person designated by the captain, shall be the election manager.

Art. 61 If the election manager is a candidate, he or she shall vacate his position and another competent person shall discharge the functions of election manager.
  Pre-election voting may not take place in the home of a candidate.

Art. 62 Pre-election voting shall only be valid if the prescribed voting materials are used.
  Voting shall take place by means of the voter’s stamping or writing on the ballot paper the alphabetical letter of the list he or she wishes to vote for; the voter may state in what order he or she wishes to have the candidates on the list.

Art. 63 Voters wishing to cast pre-election votes shall demonstrate their identity to the election manager, e.g. by producing an identification document or ID card, or in another manner deemed satisfactory by the election manager. The election manager shall keep a special register of those who cast votes at their stations (cf. the first paragraph of Article 66).
  When this has been done, the voter shall be given the voting materials. The voter shall then, without assistance and without anyone seeing, write his or her vote on the ballot paper as described in the second paragraph of Article 62 and place the ballot in the ballot envelope. Next, the voter shall address, and sign, the covering letter in the presence of the election manager, who shall witness the casting of the vote.
  If a voter informs the election manager that he or she is unable to write on the ballot paper in the prescribed manner or to address the covering letter and sign it due to poor eyesight or inability to use his or her hand, the election manager shall provide assistance in doing so in private, being bound by an oath not to divulge what transpires between them. The fact that such assistance was given shall be recorded in the register under the first paragraph and in the covering letter, specifying the reasons why it was given. Assistance with writing on the ballot paper shall only be given if the voter is able to state to the person giving the assistance unequivocally how the voter wishes to cast his or her vote. Assistance may not be offered to those who are in need of such aid.
  [If the circumstances of a voter are such as are covered by the third paragraph and the voter wishes to have a representative, whom he has chosen himself, help him to cast his vote, the election manager shall make a break in voting until other voters who may be present have finished casting their votes. The voter’s representative shall step aside. The election manager shall immediately prepare a ruling on the voter’s request. The election manager shall authorise the representative to help the voter to cast his vote if the voter himself is able to express his will clearly and without coercion to the election manager stating that he wishes to have assistance from the representative, whom he has chosen himself. If the voter is not able, by himself, to express this will clearly to the election manager, then the election manager shall authorise the representative to help the voter to cast his vote if the voter submits a certificate from a rights protection officer who works in accordance with the Act on the Protection of the Rights of Disabled Persons confirming that the voter has himself chosen a particular, named, representative to help him to cast his vote. If the voter does not fulfil the above conditions, voting cannot take place in this way. The election manager shall record his decision in the register provided for under the first paragraph and state the reasons for it. The election manager’s decision shall be final. If the election manager authorises the voter’s representative to assist him with casting his vote, then voting shall proceed and the fact that assistance was given shall be mentioned in the covering letter of conveyance. The voter’s representative shall be bound by an oath of confidentiality not to disclose what passes between him and the voter at the time of the voting. For this purpose, he shall confirm his oath before voting takes place by signing a special form. In pre-election voting, a voter’s representative may not act as the representative of another voter for the same election.
  In the case of voting in accordance with the fourth paragraph, the provisions of Articles 62-67 shall apply regarding voters’ representatives.] ¹⁾
  Finally, the ballot paper envelope, together with the covering letter, shall be placed inside the postal envelope which shall then be carefully closed. The envelope shall then be addressed to the chairman of the local council, district commissioner or electoral commission in the administrative area in which the voter believes he or she is registered on the voters’ roll. The voter’s name, ID number and domicile shall also be written on the postal envelope.
    ¹⁾Act No. 111/2012, Art. 1.

Art. 64 Voters who accidentally spoil their ballot papers may obtain new ones to replace them.

Art. 65 Voters who cast their votes under the supervision of the election manager in the constituency where they are on the voters’ roll and leave letters containing their ballots there shall themselves put them into an ordinary ballot box. Ballot boxes shall be sealed by the election manager together with the election commission in question, and the agents of the candidate lists may place their seals on it.
  Other voters shall see to, and pay for, the sending of postal ballots themselves. Election managers shall nevertheless be obliged, if voters so request, to put their letters  votes in the post.
  It shall be sufficient to bring letters conveying pre-election votes to any electoral ward in the constituency where the voter is on the voters’ roll.

Art. 66 Election managers shall enter the names of those voters who cast pre-election votes under their supervision in a special register (see Article 63), with their domiciles, ID numbers and the date when they cast their votes.
  Postal ballots which voters leave with election managers (cf. the first paragraph of Article 65) shall be numbered by the election manager and recorded in numerical sequence. Postal ballots which are delivered to the election manager shall similarly be numbered and registered, with details of the voters whom they are from and when and by whom they were delivered. These letters shall be kept in the ballot box.
  The election manager shall send the ballot box, together with the registers, to the appropriate electoral commission in good time so that it will have reached it by the time the polling session is opened.
  Agents of the candidate lists shall have access to the registers referred to in the first and second paragraphs.

Art. 67 Voters shall at all times be able to demand of any person who keeps their postal ballots, if these are not kept in a sealed ballot box, that they make them over to them up until the time that their ballots have been accepted as valid by the local electoral commission.

Chapter XIII. Polling stations

Art. 68 The polling station for each polling ward shall be decided by the local authority. There may be more than one polling ward in the same polling station.
  Polling stations shall be advertised to the public with sufficient notice before the polling session.

Art. 69 In each polling ward there shall be a suitable number of polling booths. Polling booths shall be designed in such a way as to make it possible for voters to cast their votes without other persons being able to see how they vote. There shall be a small table in each polling booth on which it is possible to write.
  In the office of the polling station there shall be a ballot box of sufficient size provided by the local authority. The ballot box shall be constructed in such a way that it is not possible to remove a ballot paper from it without opening it, and it shall be possible to lock it. [The minister] ¹⁾ may set further rules on the size and construction of ballot boxes.
  The senior electoral commission shall ensure that there are at all times sufficient numbers of ballot boxes available in the constituency.
    ¹⁾Act No. 126/2011, Art. 298.

Chapter XIV. Voting at polling sessions.

Art. 70 Polling sessions shall be opened at polling stations at 9.00 a.m.; electoral commissions may nevertheless decide that a session is to begin later, though not later than 12.00 noon. The plenary electoral commission shall be present at the opening of the session. If not all members of the commission are present, the alternates of those missing shall take their places; if they also are absent, then the person, or those persons, from the electoral commission who are present shall summon a person or persons of good repute from among the voters to take seats on the electoral commission; they shall occupy the seats until the others arrive.
  The opening of polling sessions shall be advertised with suitable notice and in the way in which official announcements are customarily published in each location.

Art. 71 The electoral commission shall sit at a table in the polling room which the voting session is in progress. At no time may more than one member of the electoral commission leave the room at a time, entrusting his or her duties meanwhile to another member of the commission unless an alternate member is available.

Art. 72 The election procedure begins with the chairman of the electoral commission presenting the package of ballot papers received from the senior election commission; care shall be taken to check that the seals are unbroken or whether the package bears signs of having been opened. This shall be noted in the election log book, the entry being signed by the electoral commission and the agents. Next, the chairman shall open the package and check whether the number of ballot papers tallies with the number stated in the letter from the senior electoral commission. This shall be noted in the election log book, the entry being signed by the electoral commission and the agents.

Art. 73 If an electoral commission receives a ballot box containing pre-election ballots, it shall check whether the seals on the box are whole and undamaged. The chairman shall then open the box and the commission shall then count the ballots and compare the number with the accompanying registers (see Article 66). The electoral commission shall then open each postal envelope and examine whether the pre-election ballot is to be accepted as valid (see Article 91). If the ballot is to be accepted as valid, a special mark shall be placed, temporarily, against the name of the voter on the voters’ roll; the ballot paper, unopened, shall, together with the covering letter, be put back in the postal envelope, which shall be set aside and kept while polling proceeds. If the pre-election ballot is not to be accepted as valid, the ballot-paper envelope and covering letter shall be kept in the same manner, the reason for rejection of the ballot being recorded on the postal envelope.
  Postal ballots that the electoral commission may have received, or receives during the polling session, shall be numbered sequentially, the number of them being recorded in the election log book. These ballots shall be handled as described in the first paragraph.
  If a voter is not on the voters’ roll in the electoral ward (or local government area) then the electoral commission shall investigate where he or she is on the voters’ roll and, if possible, have the postal ballot delivered to the correct electoral ward; otherwise, the postal ballot shall be kept until the end of the polling session.
  In local government areas where special senior electoral commissions are elected, the commission may begin sorting ballots referred to in the first paragraph the day before election day so that postal ballots can be delivered to the correct electoral ward on election day.

Art. 74 The electoral commission shall check whether any voters on the voters’ roll have waived their right to vote in the electoral ward so as to vote in another ward (see Article 80), making a note against the names of such voters in the voters’ roll.

Art. 75 The chairman of the electoral commission and one of the other commission members shall each have a copy of the voters’ roll. They shall put a mark against the name of each voter as soon as they have exercised their right to vote.

Art. 76 Before the polling session begins, the electoral commission and the agents shall ensure that the ballot box is empty and then lock it.

Art. 77 An announcement of the candidate lists in the constituency shall be prominently displayed in the election room and also in other locations in the polling station, with the names of the political organisations, the letters of the alphabets assigned to each list and the names of the candidates in the same order as on the ballot paper. Directions on voting procedure supplied by [the ministry] ¹⁾ shall also be displayed there.
  A copy of this Act, which [the ministry] ¹⁾ shall have published, shall be on hand in each polling ward, together with a copy of the Constitution, in a convenient edition, with notes and guidelines if this is considered necessary.
    ¹⁾Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162.

Art. 78 Voters shall cast their votes in the order in which they present themselves.
  Electoral commissions may decide that persons other than voters intending to vote, and also the persons employed in the conduct of the election, shall not be allowed in the election room. Electoral commissions may also limit the numbers of voters in the election room if this is considered necessary in order to keep order.
  The electoral commission shall, in other respects, ensure that unlawful election campaigning or election interference and other activities designed to disrupt or hinder the conduct of the election do not proceed at the polling station and in the immediate vicinity.

Art. 79 Voters shall prove their identity to the electoral commission, e.g., by giving their names and producing an identification document or ID card, or in another manner considered satisfactory by the electoral commission. If they are then entitled to vote according to the voters’ roll, the electoral commission shall hand them one ballot paper each.

Art. 80 Electoral commissions may not prevent anyone on the voters’ roll from voting unless they have waived their right to vote in that polling ward and voted elsewhere.
  [Electoral commissions may not permit anyone who is not on the voters’ roll from voting unless either of the following conditions is met:
  1. The voter produces a certificate, signed by the chairman of a local authority or manager of a local government area, stating that he or she has waived the right to vote where he or she is on the voters’ roll, providing that the electoral commission of the polling station where the voter intends to exercise the right to vote has received information on the voters to whom the local authority has issued such certificates.
  2. The voter signs a request, on a special form, to waive the right to vote in the electoral ward where his or her name is on the voters’ roll and the electoral commission at the polling station where the voter wishes to exercise the right to vote confirms this waiver with the signature of the chairman or two members of the electoral commission.] ¹⁾
  [The electoral commission may not confirm a certificate or a request to waive the right to vote unless it is demonstrated, in a way that the electoral commission considers valid, that the voter’s name is on the voters’ roll in another electoral ward in the same constituency and that he or she has not exercised the right to vote there. A comment shall be entered in the voters’ roll where the voter’s name is registered, stating where he or she is to exercise the right to vote, and this shall be recorded in the election log book. The waiver shall be entered in the election log book of the local election commission where the voter exercises the right to vote, the original being sent to the senior electoral commission together with the election log book of the electoral ward where it was produced and used.] ^{1)
    1)}Act No. 15/2003, Art. 9.

Art. 81 After receiving the ballot paper, the voter shall take it into the polling booth, were only the voter may be present, to the table placed there. On the table there shall be no fewer than two ordinary dark graphite pencils which the electoral commission shall supply and ensure are sufficiently well sharpened at all times.
  On the table there shall also be a card of the same size as the ballot paper with raised letters of the candidate lists and Braille lettering, with a window in front of each letter and a pocket on the reverse side so that blind persons can make a cross through the window in front of the list for which they intend to vote; in this way they can vote privately and without assistance.

Art. 82 [Voters shall cast their votes by making a cross with a pencil in the square box on the ballot paper in front of the letter of the list for which they wish to vote.] ¹⁾
  If voters wish to change the order of the names on the list for which they vote, they shall place the number 1 in front of the name they wish to have at the top, the number 2 in front of the name they wish to have in second place, the number 3 in front of the name they wish to have in third place, etc., changing as much as they wish.
  If voters wish to reject a candidate on the list for which they are voting, they shall cross out his or her name.
    ¹⁾Act No. 15/2003, Art. 10.

Art. 83 Voters may not make any changes to lists for which they are not voting, neither crossing out names on them nor changing the order in which the names appear.

Art. 84 Irrespective of who they vote for, voters shall take care not to make any marks on the ballot paper other than as prescribed in this Act.

Art. 85 When voters have marked the ballot paper in accordance with the foregoing provisions, they shall fold it together in the way that it was when they received it, walk from the polling booth to the ballot box and place the ballot paper in the box in the presence of representatives of the electoral commission. Voters shall ensure that no one can see how they have voted.

Art. 86 If voters inform the electoral commission that they are unable to vote in the prescribed manner due to poor sight or inability to use their hands, a member of the electoral commission nominated by the voter shall assist him or her in the polling booth, providing that such assistance is subject to an undertaking not to divulge what transpires between them in the booth. The fact that assistance was given shall be recorded in the election log book, together with the reason. Assistance shall only be given if voters are themselves able, to explain to the person giving assistance unequivocally how they wish to vote. Assistance may not be offered to those who need it.
  [If the circumstances of voters covered by the first paragraph are such that they request to have representatives, whom they have chosen themselves, help them to cast their ballots in the polling booth, a break shall be made in the voting until other voters who may be present in the polling room have finished casting their ballots. The voter’s representative shall leave the polling room. The electoral commission, or local electoral commission where there is more than one ward, shall immediately prepare a ruling on the voter’s request.  A local electoral commission may prepare its ruling on the voter’s request together with him or her outside the polling room so that polling can continue with other voters. The electoral commission shall authorise the representatives to help the voters to vote if they themselves are able to express their will clearly and without coercion to the electoral commission stating that they wish to have assistance from the representative, whom they themselves have chosen. If the voter is not able, unaided, to express this will clearly to the electoral commission, then the electoral commission shall authorise the representative to help the voter to cast his or her vote if the voter submits a certificate from a rights protection officer who works in accordance with the Act on the Protection of the Rights of Disabled Persons, confirming that the voter himself or herself has chosen a particular, named, representative to help him or her to vote. If the voter does not fulfil the above conditions, voting cannot take place in this way. The electoral commission’s decision shall be recorded in the electoral records book, with the reasons stated. The electoral commission’s decision shall be final. If the electoral commission authorises the representative to assist the voter in the polling booth, polling shall proceed. The voter’s representative shall be bound by an oath of confidentiality not to disclose what passes between him or her and the voter in the polling booth. For this purpose, he or she shall take an oath before voting takes place by signing a special form. In voting during a polling session, a voter’s representative may not act as the representative of another voter for the same election.
  Regarding voting, the provisions of Articles 79, 81-85 and 87 shall regarding the voter’s representative.] ^{1)
    1)}Act No. 111/2012, Art. 2.

Art. 87 If voters allow someone else to see what is on their ballot papers, the ballot papers shall be invalid and may not be placed in the ballot box. If a voter commits this error, or places the wrong voting indication on the ballot paper, or accidentally scribbles on the paper, he or she shall be entitled to receive a new ballot paper. The voter shall then hand the first ballot paper over to the electoral commission.
  Once voters have placed their ballot papers in the ballot box, they shall leave the election room.

Art. 88 A voter who has voted prior to the election may vote at a polling session, in which case his or her pre-election vote will not be considered valid in the election.

Art. 89 Polling may not be ended until eight hours have passed since the polling session began and not until half an hour has elapsed since the last voter turned up. Polling sessions may, however, be ended when everyone on the voters’ roll has cast their vote and after five hours if all the electoral commission and the agents are in agreement on this, providing that at that time, half an hour has elapsed since the last voter turned up.
  Polling session must nevertheless be ended not later than at 10 p.m. on election day. Voters who have turned up prior to that time shall nevertheless be entitled to vote.

Art. 90 When the polling session has ended, the electoral commission shall once again check, in the presence of the agents of the candidate lists, the pre-election ballots that it has received and that have not been retracted.
  If the person whose ballot is under consideration is on the voters’ roll and is entitled to vote and has not voted at a polling session, the electoral commission shall put a mark against his or her name on the voters’ roll.
  If the postal ballot is not considered valid (cf. Article 91) a mark shall be made on the envelope as prescribed in the first paragraph of Article 73.
  If a voter who has sent a pre-election ballot is not on the voters’ roll in the constituency, the electoral commission shall note this specially in the election log book, sending such postal ballots separately to the senior electoral commission [or regional electoral commission]. ^{1)
    1)}Act No. 15/2003, Art. 11.

Art. 91 Pre-election votes shall not be regarded as valid:
  a. if the sender is not on the voters’ roll,
  b. if the sender has already cast his or her vote,
  c. if the sender has waived the right to cast a vote in the electoral ward in question (see Article 80),
  d. if the sender has died before election day,
  e. if the postal envelope contains more than one covering letter and one ballot paper envelope,
  f. if it can be seen that the prescribed voting materials prepared by [the ministry] ¹⁾ have not been used,
  g. if the rules set regarding pre-election voting have not been followed, or
  h. if the vote has not been cast at the time specified in Article 57 and the fifth paragraph of Article 58.
  If more than one pre-election vote which could be valid is received from the same voter, only the last of them shall be considered valid.
    ¹⁾Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162.

Art. 92 In the event of a dispute within an electoral commission, or between an electoral commission and the agent of a candidate list as to whether a pre-election ballot is valid or not, the substance of the dispute shall be recorded accurately in the election log book and the ballot-paper envelope, unopened, shall be placed, together with the covering letter, shall be placed again inside the postal envelope and sent for a ruling by the senior electoral commission [or regional electoral commission]. ^{1)
    1)}Act No. 15/2003, Art. 12.

Art. 93 The electoral commission shall place those ballot-paper envelopes about the validity of which there is no dispute, unopened, in the ballot box.

Art. 94 The agents of the candidate lists shall be entitled to monitor to ensure that the electoral commission and voters conduct themselves in accordance with the law during the election, all of them being entitled to complain to the electoral commission concerning anything they consider is not as it should be.
  If an agent considers there is something unlawful about the conduct of the election but does not succeed in having it put right, he or she shall be entitled to have a criticism of the matter recorded immediately in the election log book and the Althingi shall subsequently decide on the effect this is to have on the election.
  If an electoral commission refuses to record something for an agent regarding the conduct of the election, the agent shall have the right to record it himself or herself, signing the entry in the records.

Art. 95 When the polling session has ended and the ballot-paper envelopes that have been accepted as valid have been placed in the ballot box, the chairman shall immediately put in a special envelope all the ballot papers that have been spoiled (see Article 87); in another envelope shall be placed all pre-election ballots whose validity is disputed (see Article 92) and in a third all left-over ballot papers that are unused. When the envelopes have been closed, they shall all be placed in the main envelope, together with the key of the ballot box, and this envelope shall be closed. Envelopes sent by the senior electoral commission for this purpose shall be used.
  When the log book has been written up and signed by the electoral commission and any agents of the candidate lists who may be present, the chairman shall enclose everything –   ballot boxes, the main envelope and the election log book, or a transcript from the log book, signed by the electoral commission and any agents of the candidate lists who were present, and also any pre-election ballots that are to go to another constituency (see the fourth paragraph of Article 90) – in packaging sealed by the electoral commission; the agents may also place their seals on the packaging. These materials shall be addressed to the senior electoral commission [or, as appropriate, the regional electoral commission (see the first paragraph of Article 97)], ¹⁾ and sent to it in a secure manner. The senior electoral commission [or regional electoral commission] ¹⁾ shall acknowledge receipt of the materials.
  After the electoral commission has completed preparations for the sending of the electoral materials, the sealed materials and the electoral commission’s seal may not be in the keeping of the same individual.
    ¹⁾Act No. 15/2003, Art. 13.

Art. 96 [If the senior electoral commission or regional electoral commission is present at the polling station and the votes are counted immediately, the electoral commission may, in the presence of the agents of the candidate lists, make the ballot box over to the senior or regional electoral commission without sealing it.] ¹⁾
  As soon as the election has ended and the electoral commission has prepared the necessary reports from the voters’ roll, it shall send the copies of the voters’ roll that were used during the election, in sealed packaging, to the senior electoral commission [or, as appropriate, to the regional electoral commission]. ^{1)
    1)}Act No. 15/2003, Art. 14.

Chapter XV. Election results in the constituencies.

Art. 97 [A senior electoral commission may decide that the counting of votes may take place not only where it is based but also by a regional electoral commission in another location in the constituency.] ¹⁾
  The senior electoral commission shall advertise, with suitable notice prior to the election, where and when it [or the regional electoral commission] ¹⁾ will convene to open ballot boxes and count votes. Local electoral commissions shall be obliged to ensure that ballot boxes, and the election materials that are supposed to accompany them, have reached the senior electoral commission [or regional electoral commission] ¹⁾ by that time unless this is rendered impossible for valid reasons. In all cases, counting shall take place as soon as is possible in the estimation of the senior electoral commission [or the regional electoral commission]. ¹⁾
  If polling is postponed under Article 114, counting of votes may in no case proceed until polling has ended everywhere.
    ¹⁾Act No. 15/2003, Art. 15.

Art. 98 Votes shall be counted in public so that voters have the opportunity of being present according as space permits.
  If no agent of one of the candidate lists is present at a counting session, the senior electoral commission [or regional electoral commission] ¹⁾ shall summon persons of good repute from the same political organisation, if this is possible, to defend the interests of the list.
    ¹⁾Act No. 15/2003, Art. 16.

Art. 99 In the presence of these persons, the senior electoral commission [or regional electoral commission] ¹⁾ shall then, after being given an opportunity to convince themselves that all seals are undamaged, open the packages of votes from each polling ward. The senior electoral commission [or regional electoral commission] ¹⁾ shall check whether the number of voters who have cast votes, according to the election log books of the local electoral commissions, corresponds to the number of ballot papers delivered and the comments recorded by the local electoral commissions. If a senior electoral commission [or regional electoral commission]¹⁾ has received a letter containing a pre-election ballot of the type referred to in the fourth paragraph of Article 90, it shall handle it according to the procedure laid down in the second paragraph of the same Article. As soon as each ballot box is opened, the ballot papers inside it shall, without being examined, be poured into a suitable empty container, care being taken to ensure that ballot papers from individual polling wards are mixed together thoroughly.
  The ballot papers shall then be taken from the container, in the presence of agents of the candidate lists, sorted according to the alphabetical letters of the lists that are marked on each ballot and counted under the supervision of the senior electoral commission [or regional electoral commission]. ¹⁾
  The sorting of ballot papers, and preparations for their counting, may begin in a closed session before polling ends.
    ¹⁾Act No. 15/2003, Art. 17.

Art. 100 A vote shall be regarded as invalid:
  a. if the ballot paper is blank,
  b. if it is not possible to see which list has been marked or not possible to see with certainty whether what is written on the pre-election ballot paper could refer to any of the lists that are up for election,
  c. if more than one of the alphabetical letters assigned to candidate lists has been marked, or names on more than one list have been marked with numerals, or if more than one alphabetical list letter has been written on a pre-election ballot paper,
  d. if more than has been prescribed has been written on the ballot paper or if strange markings have been made which can be presumed to have been made intentionally in order to make the ballot paper recognisable,
  e. if the envelope containing a pre-election ballot paper contains other things, or more than one ballot paper,
  f. if the ballot paper is different from what the electoral commission or election manager gave out in accordance with the law.

Art. 101 A vote shall not be regarded as invalid, even if it is flawed, if it is clear how it was intended, unless it is evidently in breach of [one or more of the indents of Article 100]. ¹⁾ Thus, a vote shall be considered valid even though the marking has been made not [in the square box by the alphabetical list letter but, e.g., outside it]; ²⁾ even though the cross is poorly formed; even though the word ‘list’ comes, needlessly, after the alphabetical list letter on a pre-election ballot; even though the name of a political organisation is placed instead of an alphabetical list letter, etc.
  A ballot may be considered as having been cast for a candidate list in a constituency, even though the voter has not placed a mark against the alphabetical letter of the list, if a name, or names, on the list are numbered, or a cross has been placed against a name, providing there are no other flaws on the ballot.
    ¹⁾Act No. 16/2009, Art. 5. ²⁾Act No. 15/2003, Art.18.

Art. 102 A pre-election vote cast for a candidate list before it is amended under Article 37 shall be regarded as having been cast for the list as amended.
Art. 103 [If a senior electoral commission or, as appropriate, a regional electoral commission, and the agents of the candidate lists agree that a particular ballot paper is invalid, it shall then be considered invalid. If a dispute arises over the validity of ballot papers, rulings shall be delivered on such disputed ballots as soon as the papers come to light. The number of ballot papers that are invalid, and the reasons why, shall be recorded in the minutes book.
  If a dispute arises within a regional electoral commission or between a regional electoral commission and one of the agents as to whether a ballot paper is valid or invalid, the regional electoral commission shall send it to the senior electoral commission, which shall deliver a ruling on its validity.
  If a dispute arises within a senior electoral commission on the validity of a ballot paper, the issue shall be resolved by a majority vote. If a dispute arises within a senior electoral commission or between a senior electoral commission and one of the agents regarding whether a ballot paper is valid or invalid, such ballot papers shall be placed in two envelopes: one for ballot papers that the electoral commission has ruled valid and the other for ballot papers that it has ruled invalid.
  When the votes have been counted and totalled under the close supervision of the agents, the regional electoral commission shall make known the result of its count to the senior electoral commission, which shall enter the election result in its minutes book and announce it to those present. Care shall be taken to ensure that the total number of votes corresponds to the total number of persons who cast votes in the constituency according to the reports of the local electoral commissions, and that everything is consistent with the total number of left-over ballot papers.
  If counting was done by a regional electoral commission, it shall, on completing its work, send all used ballot papers, under seal, to the senior electoral commission; valid and invalid ballots shall be kept separate. In addition, it shall send the senior electoral commission, under seal, the pre-election votes that are to go to a polling ward that comes under the senior electoral commission (see the fourth paragraph of Article 90), all voters’ rolls in sealed packaging, local electoral commissions’ election log books that it has received and also its minutes book. The senior electoral commission shall treat these materials in the same way as it does those that are in its keeping.] ^{1)
    1)}Act No. 15/2003, Art. 19.

Art. 104 When counting is complete, envelopes containing disputed ballots shall be closed with the senior electoral commission’s seal; the agents of the candidates’ lists shall also be entitled to place their seals on the envelopes. The senior electoral commission shall send [the ministry] ¹⁾ a transcript from its minutes book regarding the election, together with the disputed ballots, which [the ministry] ¹⁾ shall submit to the Althingi at the beginning of the parliamentary session as it received them.
  The senior electoral commission shall then place all used ballot papers under seal; valid and invalid ballots shall be kept separately. The ballots shall be kept until the Althingi has delivered its ruling on the validity of the election (cf. Article 120), providing they will not be needed in connection with complaints that may have been made to a commissioner of police. After this, the ballot papers shall be destroyed, a declaration to this effect being recorded in the senior electoral commission’s minutes book.
  The senior electoral commission shall prepare all the voters’ rolls in sealed packaging and send them to [the ministry], ¹⁾ which shall keep them for one year and then destroy them.
    ¹⁾Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162.

Art. 105 In each constituency, all votes received by each candidate list shall be counted; this produces the number of votes for each list. Furthermore, the senior electoral commission shall calculate the number of votes for each candidate in accordance with Article 110.
  The senior electoral commission shall immediately send the National Electoral Commission a report on vote numbers. The report shall state the number of voters on the voters’ roll, how many votes were cast for each candidate list and the number of votes cast for each candidate. The National Electoral Commission shall provide the senior electoral commission with forms for these reports.
  [If a consignment of ballot papers from a constituency has not reached the senior electoral commission or, as appropriate, the regional electoral commission, by the time specified in Article 97, the electoral commission shall nevertheless open the ballot boxes and other election materials at the time that has been advertised.] ¹⁾ The senior electoral commission shall not, however, send its report on vote numbers to the National Electoral Commission as provided for in the second paragraph until the votes from the consignment that was lacking have been counted. The candidate list agents shall be informed, to the extent possible, when the consignment is to be opened so that they will have the opportunity of being present.
    ¹⁾Act No. 15/2003, Art. 20.

Chapter XVI. Allocation of parliamentary seats.

Art. 106 When the National Electoral Commission has received all reports on the election results in the constituencies following an ordinary general election (see Article 105), it shall convene in order to allocate parliamentary seats, constituency seats and adjustment seats. The National Electoral Commission shall advertise, with suitable notice, where and when it is to convene for this purpose so as to give the agents of those political organisations that put forward candidates (see Article 39) the opportunity of being present.

Allocation of constituency seats.
Art. 107 The following procedure shall be employed to find how many candidates from each list have been elected in each constituency:
  1. The number of votes cast for each list shall be divided by 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. The quotients are then recorded for each list.
  2. The list with the highest quotient receives the first constituency seat. That quotient is then deleted. The list which then has the highest quotient receives the second constituency seat. This procedure is continued until as many seats as are to be elected (cf. the second paragraph of Article 8) have been allocated.
  3. If two or more quotients being considered under indent 2 are equal, lots shall be drawn to determine which takes priority.

Allocation of adjustment seats.
Art. 108 Only political organisations that have received at least five per cent of the valid votes cast in the country as a whole shall qualify for consideration when it comes to the allocation of adjustment seats.
  To establish how many adjustment seats fall to a political organisation meeting the condition of the first paragraph and which of their candidate lists are to be allocated adjustment seats, the total number of votes they have received all over the country, and the constituency seats they have received under Article 107 shall first be counted.
  The following procedure shall then be applied regarding these organisations:
  1. The number of votes cast for the organisation shall be divided by the number of its constituency seats, augmented first by 1, then by 2, then by 3, etc. The quotients so produced are here designated as the organisation’s ‘national indices.’
  2. A list shall be drawn up of the two seats of each candidate list that came closest to receiving allocations in a constituency under Article 107. Against each of these seats, the proportion that the quotient for the seat under indent 1 of Article 107 constituted of all valid votes cast in the constituency shall be noted.
  3. The highest national index that has not already been deleted under the first indent shall be found. For those political organisations that then have national indices, the highest quotient for a list under item 2 shall be found, and an adjustment seat shall be allocated to that list. The national index and the quotient shall then both be deleted.
  4. If two or more national indices or quotients being considered under item 3 are equal, lots shall be drawn to determine which of them takes priority.
  5. When adjustment seats have been allocated in each constituency according to the second paragraph of Article 8, the quotients of all the lists in that constituency shall be deleted.
  6. If all the quotients of a political organisation have been deleted, then all its national indices shall also be deleted.
  7. The provisions of item 3 shall be applied as often as necessary until all the adjustment seats under the second paragraph of Article 8 have been allocated.

Adjustment MPs and deputy MPs.
Art. 109 Candidates who are allocated adjustment seats shall be regarded as MPs of the constituency in which they stood for election, in the order in which the seats are allocated under Article 108.
  Candidate lists in a constituency that has acquired one or more MPs in accordance with Article 107 or Article 108 shall be entitled to the same number of deputy MPs.

Numbers of votes cast for candidates.
Art. 110 Only those candidates who occupy the upper places on their lists shall qualify as the potential MPs and deputy MPs of each candidate list in the constituencies; they shall be twice as many as the number of seats allocated to each list according to the outcome of the election (see Articles 107 and 108), though at no time fewer than three. This number of candidates is referred to as the ranking number of the list.
  To find which of these candidates have been elected, the National Electoral Commission shall calculate the number of votes cast for the candidates who qualify according to the first paragraph. The candidate who occupies the first seat on an unaltered candidate list, or who is placed in that seat on an altered list, receives one vote. The candidate who, in the same way, ends in the second seat, shall receive a fraction of a vote, calculated as follows: the denominator shall be the ranking number, while the numerator shall be that number less one. The numerator shall then be reduced by one for each successive place.
  The candidate who receives the highest number of votes on each list in accordance with the second paragraph is allocated the first seat for the list. The candidate who receives the second highest number of votes is allocated the second seat, and so on until the allocation of parliamentary seats and deputy positions is complete. If two or more candidates receive equal numbers of votes, the order in which they are ranked on the list shall be decided by lot.
  Candidates other than those who qualify as potential MPs and deputy MPs under the first paragraph shall retain the positions they occupy on their candidate lists irrespective of alterations made on the ballot papers.

Chapter XVII. Issue of election certificates.

Art. 111 Immediately after it has allocated parliamentary seats according to Articles 107-110, the National Electoral Commission shall issue to the elected MPs and, as a provisional measure, to the same number of deputy MPs, election certificates which shall be drawn up according to an exemplar prescribed by [the ministry]. ¹⁾ 
  As soon as the election certificates have been handed out, the National Electoral Commission shall announce to the government ministries the outcome of the election and send the names of the elected MPs for publication in the Government Gazette.
    ¹⁾Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162.

Art. 112 In the event of a dispute between the agents of the candidate lists that participated in the general election and the National Electoral Commission concerning a ruling that has been delivered, the agents shall be entitled to have the dispute recorded in the National Election Commission’s minutes book. The National Electoral Commission shall send [the ministry] ¹⁾ a transcript of its records concerning the allocation of parliamentary seats, and also all reports and documents from the senior electoral commissions regarding which the dispute may have arisen; [the ministry] ¹⁾ shall submit the matter to the Althingi at the beginning of its parliamentary session in the same form as it received it.
    ¹⁾Act No.162/2010, Art. 162.

Art. 113 If, after an ordinary general election, the Althingi has ruled that the election of a particular list is invalid and a repeat election has been held (cf. Articles 120 and 121), the National Electoral Commission shall then re-allocate the constituency seats where the repeat election was held in accordance with Article 107 and allocate adjustment seats again in accordance with Article 108. The former allocations then become invalid.

Chapter XVIII. Postponement of elections; repeat elections.

Art. 114 If polling does not proceed in any polling ward on the specified election day due to bad weather or other circumstances beyond control, the local electoral commission shall then call a new polling session to be held within one week. The announcement shall be published in the way in which it is traditional to publish official announcements.
  If polling does not proceed because a consignment of ballot papers does not reach its destination, the local electoral commission shall immediately notify the senior electoral commission, which shall arrange a new consignment as quickly as possible. The local electoral commission shall then call a new polling session in the manner prescribed in the first paragraph.
  Local electoral commissions may postpone polling in a polling ward after the polling session has begun if it considers that circumstances beyond control, such as bad weather, will make it impossible to continue and all members of the electoral commission agree on the postponement, providing this is approved by the senior electoral commission. If polling is postponed, a new polling session shall be called in the manner prescribed in the first paragraph.
  Electoral commissions elected as prescribed in the second paragraph of Article 15 shall replace local electoral commissions in taking decisions under the first, second and third paragraphs.
  When polling has been postponed, the procedure prescribed in Article 95 shall be observed in every detail, as appropriate, in addition to which the copies of the voters’ roll that have been used by the electoral commission shall be included with the other election materials. When the polling session opens on the latter election day, the electoral commission shall open the packaging containing election materials in the presence of the candidates or their agents. If an agent is not present, the commission shall summon a person of good repute to be the agent for the candidate. If it is not possible to comply with this provision, the packaging may nevertheless be opened and voting may begin one hour after the polling session was opened. The provisions of Chapter XIV shall apply, as appropriate, to the latter election day.
  If an election is held, but a consignment of ballot papers from an electoral ward does not reach the senior electoral commission, the senior electoral commission shall have a new polling session held in the ward, in which case the foregoing provisions shall apply to it in every detail.
Art. 115 If a repeat election becomes necessary because an election is ruled invalid under Article 46 of the Constitution (cf. Articles 120 and 121 of this Act), [the ministry] ¹⁾ shall call a new election in the constituency by means of an advertisement; it shall decide the election day as soon as possible and within one month at the latest.
  In other respects, the election shall proceed in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
    ¹⁾Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162.

Chapter XIX. Reports to Statistics Iceland

Art. 116 Electoral commissions shall send Statistics Iceland reports on the election, written on forms provided by Statistics Iceland.

Chapter XX. Unlawful election campaigning and election interference.

Art. 117 The following constitute unlawful election campaigning and election interference:
  a. offering someone money or other benefits so as to influence whether, or how, he or she will vote; depriving, or threatening to deprive, someone of his or her livelihood or benefits for the same purpose; promising someone money or benefits if the outcome of the election will be of one type or another; making it difficult for other persons to attend a polling session or a place where pre-election votes are cast and employing coercion in connection with elections;
  b. attempting to influence polling, whether by holding speeches, printed or handwritten addresses or advertisements; by carrying or displaying the logos of political organisations, the signs of candidate lists or other such identifying features in a polling station (i.e., in the polling room, polling booths or elsewhere, or on the buildings where the polling session is held) or in the immediate vicinity;
  c. displaying the logo of a political organisation, the sign of a candidate list or another such identifying feature on automobiles while a polling session is in progress, and using a megaphone during the same period;
  d. giving inaccurate or misleading information about oneself or other persons, such as one’s name, age, residence in Iceland, address or other details, which leads, or could lead, to the placement of a person on a voters’ roll who has no right to be on it, or the non-inclusion, or removal, of a person from a voters’ roll when he or she has the right to be on it, or someone being made to vote instead of another person who is on the voters’ roll; this applies particularly to cases where someone claims, without proper reason, to be domiciled in a constituency merely in order to be put on the voters’ roll there;
  e. giving misleading guidance concerning polling;
  f. misrepresenting the way votes are cast, either by destroying or altering votes that have been cast, or in some other manner.

Chapter XXI. Complaints and charges concerning elections

Art. 118 If a voter brings a complaint alleging that an MP who has been elected failed to meet any of the requirements for standing as a candidate, or that a candidate list was unlawfully put forward for election, or elected, with the result that the election ought to be declared invalid, that person shall, within four weeks of the announcement of the election result, but before the next Althingi convenes, send [the ministry] ¹⁾ the complaint, in duplicate. [The ministry]¹⁾ shall send one copy immediately to the agent of the candidate list; the other shall be submitted to the Althingi at the beginning of the parliamentary session.
    ¹⁾Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162.

Art. 119 Where they are not subject to adjudication by local authorities, electoral commissions or the Althingi, complaints arising from violations of this Act shall be directed to the appropriate commissioners of police, and shall be treated in accordance with [the provisions on criminal procedure]. ¹⁾
  No voter who casts a vote in a general election may be required, in any case, to reveal in court for whom he or she voted in a general election.
    ¹⁾Act No. 88/2008, Art. 234.

Chapter XXII. Rulings by the Althingi on the validity of elections

Art. 120 If the Althingi receives a complaint to the effect that a newly-elected MP did not meet the requirements for standing for election, or stood for election, or was elected, unlawfully for other reasons, it shall investigate the complaint and deliver a ruling on it, in addition to which it shall investigate the election certificates of all newly-elected MPs and the materials it received from the National Electoral Commission and the senior electoral commission regarding their election and shall deliver a ruling on the validity of the election in the manner prescribed in further detail in its standing orders.
  If an MP did not meet the requirements for standing for election, the Althingi shall rule that his or her election was invalid.
  If there were flaws in an MP’s candidature or election that may be considered likely to have had an effect on the outcome of the election, the Althingi shall rule that the MP’s election was invalid; it shall also do so without the preceding condition if the MP himself or herself, his or her agents or his or her sponsors were deliberately responsible for the irregularities, providing that these were substantial. If the irregularities apply to the candidate list as a whole, the same shall apply to all MPs elected from that list as otherwise applies to an individual MP.
  If an MP stood for election on two candidate lists in a constituency, or constituencies, in the same general election, the Althingi shall rule that his or her election was invalid.

Art. 121 If the Althingi rules the election of an entire candidate list in a constituency invalid, a repeat election shall be held there.

Chapter XXIII. How deputy MPs take parliamentary seats

Art. 122 Deputy MPs shall take parliamentary seats according to the rules laid down in Articles 109 and 110 when MPs from the list on which they were elected die or are unable to attend; this is without regard to the identity of the MP for the list. If a deputy MP becomes unable to attend due to illness or another reason, resigns, no longer meets the requirements for standing for election or dies, the next person on the list who was not previously a deputy MP shall take his or her seat.
  If an MP dies, resigns from parliament or no longer meets the requirements for standing for election, a deputy MP shall take his or her seat as an MP for the remainder of the electoral term.

Chapter XXIV. Costs and expenses.

Art. 123 The following shall apply regarding payment of the costs of implementing this Act:
  a. The Treasury shall pay necessary expenses arising from the work of the National Electoral Commission and the costs of the election materials and equipment provided by [the ministry] ¹⁾ or the National Electoral Commission, and also of premises provided for the use of the National Electoral Commission.
  b. The Treasury shall pay necessary expenses arising from the work of the senior electoral commission [and local election commissions] ²⁾ and the costs of the election materials and  equipment provided by senior electoral commissions, and also of premises where votes are counted.
  c. [The Treasury shall pay] ³⁾ necessary expenses arising from the work of local electoral commissions and electoral commissions under the second paragraph of Article 15, and the costs of the election materials and equipment provided by these electoral commissions, of premises for polling sessions and of ballot boxes.
    ¹⁾Act No. 162/2010, Art. 162. ²⁾Act No. 15/2003, Art. 21. ³⁾Act No. 162/2006, Art. 14.

Chapter XXV. Sanctions

Art. 124 Fines shall be imposed, if no more severe punishment is prescribed under other provisions of this Act or of other acts of law, if a local authority, electoral commission, pre-election polling manager or civil servant intentionally arranges the prescribed implementation of this in an unlawful manner or neglects such implementation.

Art. 125 Fines shall be imposed:
  a. if a person stands for election as an MP, knowing that he or she does not meet the requirements for standing for election,
  b. if a person stands for election on more than one candidate list,
  c. if a voter deliberately renders his or her ballot paper void when voting at a polling session or when casting a vote under supervision of a pre-election polling manager,
  d. if a voter deliberately shows how he or she is voting, or has voted,
  e. if a person surreptitiously observes how a voter is voting, or has voted,
  f. if a voter feigns blindness or other types of disability in order to obtain assistance with voting,
  g. if a person deliberately fails to deliver a postal ballot that has been entrusted to him or her, or deliberately delays the sending of ballots and election materials,
  h. if a person gives inaccurate or misleading information about himself or herself, or about others, in the manner described in indent d of Article 117, providing that no more severe punishment is prescribed in other provisions of this Act or in other acts of law,
  i. if a person gives misleading guidance concerning polling.

Art. 126 Fines shall be imposed, if no more severe punishment is prescribed under other acts of law:
  a. if an electoral commission member or the manager of pre-election polling surreptitiously observes how a voter is voting, or has voted, or deliberately gives misleading guidance concerning polling,
  b. if an electoral commission member, or the manager of pre-election polling [or a voter’s representative] ¹⁾ who gives assistance, divulges how a voter he or she assisted has voted,
  c. if an electoral commission member, or the manager of pre-election polling or a person who has undertaken to transport election materials under Article 54 or Article 95 delays their reaching their destination,
  d. if a person makes it difficult for anyone to attend a polling session or pre-election voting,
  e. if a person casts votes at two locations in the same general election,
  [f. if a voter’s representative as provided for under Article 63 or Article 86 becomes the representative of another voter in the same election]. ^{1)
    1)}Act No. 111/2012, Art. 3.

Art. 127 Fines shall be imposed, if no more severe punishment is prescribed under other acts of law:
  a. if a person offers money or other benefits to someone, or promises them money or other benefits, in order to influence whether they vote, or how they vote, or if a person deprives someone of their employment or other benefits, or threatens to do so, for the same purpose.
  b. if a person accepts money or other benefits in return for voting, not voting or voting in a particular manner.

Art. 128 Imprisonment of up to four years shall be imposed:
  a. if a person employs coercion or violence, or threats of violence, in order to interfere with someone’s freedom to exercise their vote, either by preventing them from voting or by forcing them to vote in a manner other than they wish to,
  b. if a person deliberately falsifies polling, either by losing a vote, altering a vote, damaging or losing a consignment of votes, producing ballot papers that closely resemble those used in polling and using them himself or herself, or giving them away so that other persons can use them, or by tampering with the outcome of a vote count or in another manner.

Chapter XXVI. Amendments to this Act

Art. 129 This Act may be amended as prescribed in the Constitution.
  The provisions of Article 6 regarding constituency boundaries and the provisions of Articles 107–108 on the allocation of parliamentary seats may only be amended with the approval of ²/ 3 of the votes cast in the Althingi (cf. the sixth paragraph of Article 31 of the Constitution).

Chapter XXVII. Commencement and amendments to other acts of law

Art. 130 This Act takes immediate effect.  …

Interim provisions

  I.
  Without prejudice to the provisions of the second sentence of the first paragraph of Article 130, the General Election Act, No. 80/1987, with subsequent amendments, shall be applied to the presidential elections in 2000, as appropriate and in so far as no other provisions are made in the Candidacy and Election of the President of Iceland Act, No. 36/1945, with subsequent amendments. Furthermore, senior electoral commissions that were elected under that legislation following the general election of 1999, to the 124^th legislative session of the Althingi, shall retain their briefs for the purpose of that election.

  II.
  On commencement of this Act, the authorisation of the senior electoral commissions that were elected under the first paragraph of Article 9 of Act No. 80/1987, for the last time in June 1999 (see, however, Interim Provision No. I) shall lapse. The Althingi shall immediately elect senior electoral commissions to replace them in accordance with the first paragraph of Article 13 of this Act.

  [III. … ¹⁾] ^{2)
    1)}Act No. 7/2009, Art. 3. ²⁾Act No. 7/2009, Art. 1.

  [IV. … ¹⁾] ^{2)
    1)}Act No. 91/2016, Art. 4. ²⁾Act No. 91/2016, Art. 2.

  [V. … ¹⁾] ^{2)
    1)}Act No. 79/2017, Art. 3. ²⁾Act No. 79/2017, Art. 1.

  [VI.

            The following provisions shall apply to the general elections of 2021:

1. District commissioners shall, each in their own jurisdictions and in consultation with the infectious disease authorities, organise pre-election voting for those who are unable to attend polling sessions on election day or cast their votes at places where regular pre-election voting is held because they are in quarantine or isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The district commissioner shall advertise where such voting is to take place; however, it may not commence until five days before election day.
2. Voters who are unable to attend a polling session on election day because they are in isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic may cast their votes at their places of residence. Requests to this effect shall be received by the appropriate district commissioiner, together with a confirmation from the health authorities testifying that the person in question will be in isolation until after election day, not later than 10 a.m. on election day, if the person concerned is present in the constituency where he or she is entitled to vote and otherwise not later than 10 a.m. two days prior to election day. The same shall apply to persons who are in quarantine for the same reason and are unable to cast their votes outside their place of residence. In such cases, voters shall explain why they are unable to cast their votes outside their places of residence. Requests from voters to cast their votes at their place of residence may be turned down if the infectious disease authorities consider that it is not possible to arrange voting without jeopardising the health of the electoral officer or other persons. Decisions to this effect shall be final.
3. Voters who are in quarantine or isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic are not considered capable neither of marking their ballot papers in the prescribed manner nor signing the cover letter; consequently, electoral officers shall assist them in doing this without anyone else seeing.
4. The provisions of Chapter XII shall apply to the casting of votes, as appropriate.
5. The Minister shall issue a regulation on the form and contents of applications and also on the preparations, arrangements and conduct of elections under this provision.] ¹⁾

    ¹⁾Act No. 67/2021, Art. 8.