Avstemningen

Avstemningen is the act of voting in a formal setting, such as a legislative assembly or a public referendum. In Norwegian political life, the term is used for a specific decision point where members cast votes on a proposal, motion, or constitutional question. The process is typically presided over by a chair and can be conducted by voice, show of hands, roll call, or secret ballot, depending on the rules of the body and the importance of the issue. After the votes are counted, the result is announced and the proposal is adopted or rejected according to the applicable majority requirements. In many assemblies, a simple majority of those present suffices; for constitutional amendments or other specially protected matters, a supermajority may be required.

The concept also extends to public referendums (folkeavstemninger) where citizens vote directly on a question. National referendums in Norway have historically been advisory rather than binding on the government and parliament, meaning the elected representatives decide how to proceed, though the outcome can influence policy. Examples include the national referendums on European Community/Union membership in 1972 and 1994, both conducted as advisory plebiscites.

In organizational contexts, avstemningen follows similar rules, with clear procedures for voting eligibility, ballot handling, and result publication. The term thus denotes both the act of voting and the event in which a proposal is decided by the vote of participants.