Explaining the low voter turnout in Iceland’s 2010 local government elections

• DOI: 10.12742/samtid.2013.2
• Publication Date: 2013-04-01T07:03:52Z
• Authors: Grétar Þór Eyþórsson; Marcin Kowalczyk
• Keywords: Turnout; Voter turnout; Fell

Voter participation in Iceland (measured as voter turnout) was significantly lower the two most recent local government elections than ever before. In 2006 elections, turnout country dropped below 80 percent for first time since registration began (to 78.7 percent) and fell even further to 73.4 2010 elections. This article presents data on this drop seeks potential explanations it. One hypothesis is that a major factor, especially disillusionment wake of Iceland’s economic collapse 2008 subsequent crisis public confidence parliament. Another size municipalities has be taken into account. As elsewhere, political stronger smaller municipalities. It only bigger nationwide parties are active, it also there voters have given support newly formed parties.