stemmesteder

Stemmesteder are physical locations where eligible voters cast their ballots during elections. The term is used in Norwegian and other Scandinavian languages to refer to polling places. They form part of the electoral infrastructure and are designed to enable in-person voting in a secure and orderly manner.

Stemmesteder are typically designated by the national or local electoral authority and assigned to voters according to their registered residence or municipality. Prior to an election, voters receive information about their assigned stemmested and the hours of operation through official notices, voter portals, or local announcements. While stemmesteder are the primary venues for in-person voting, many systems also offer alternative methods such as early voting or mail-in voting, which are processed through different channels.

Inside a stemmested, voters check in with election staff, confirm their eligibility, and receive ballots or instructions for the voting process. They vote in privacy booths and then deposit the completed ballot into a sealed ballot box or through an electronic voting system. Security and chain-of-custody measures are used to protect ballots from opening or tampering, and access to counting areas is restricted until after polls close.

Polls are designed to be accessible to people with disabilities and to accommodate a range of voters, with clear signage and staff assistance as needed. After polls close, election officials count ballots and report results to the appropriate authorities.