Questions and Answers
Referendum of 6 March 2010 on the question whether the Act no. 1/2010 is to remain in force or not
Who may vote?
A referendum will be held on 6 March 2010. Only Icelandic citizens may vote. They must be 18 years of age and be legally resident in Iceland. Those who have moved away from Iceland retain the right to vote for eight years and even longer if they apply for an extension.
Do voters have to register?
No, Icelandic citizens are automatically registered on a list of eligible voters in the local government area where they are legally resident. They may only vote in that local government area. Information on eligible voters will be obtained from the National Registry (Þjóðskrá), so it will not be necessary to register specially for the referendum as would be the case in some countries. Persons who are not on the list cannot vote. Voters will be on a list in the local government area where they were registered three weeks prior to the referendum. The list of eligible voters will be made available to the public not later than 27 February 2010.
Where is it possible to vote?
It will be possible to vote at polling stations on 6 March. All local authorities will announce these locations and their opening times. The general rule is that voting takes place in schools.
Voters who cannot vote at polling stations on 6 March, for instance those who are abroad, may request a pre-election ballot. It is also possible to vote in Icelandic embassies and at many Icelandic consulates abroad. The ballot paper will carry a question which voters must answer by marking either the ‘Yes' box or the ‘No' box.
How do I vote?
Voting takes place in private and without anyone seeing. Voters must produce an identity document, such as a passport, driver's licence or ID card, to prove their identity before being given a ballot to cast. They then go to an empty booth. After having marked either the ‘Yes' box or the ‘No' box, they then fold their ballots and put them in the ballot box. It is prohibited to show one's ballot to other people.