stortingsvalg

Stortingsvalg refers to national elections in Norway to elect representatives to the Storting, the country’s parliament. Elections are held every four years on a fixed date, and the Storting has 169 members elected for four-year terms. Since 2009 Norway has operated a unicameral parliament.

The electoral system combines proportional representation with open party lists in multi-member constituencies. Norway is divided into 19 counties, which determine the number of seats each constituency elects. Seats are allocated within counties using a proportional method, and additional leveling seats (utjevningsmandater) are distributed nationally to improve overall proportionality. A party must surpass a national threshold (traditionally around 4 percent) to be eligible for leveling seats, ensuring that national results are reflected in the final composition. Voters may express preferences for individual candidates on party lists, influencing the order of candidates who receive seats from a given list.

Eligibility to vote in stortingsvalg is limited to Norwegian citizens aged 18 or older on election day. Generally, foreign nationals do not participate in parliamentary elections, though they may have limited participation in local elections under different rules.

Campaigns focus on national issues such as the economy, welfare, energy policy, and foreign affairs. After results are tallied, the Storting forms a government through party coalitions or minority arrangements. The prime minister and cabinet are appointed by the monarch on the basis of parliamentary support, and confidence votes or budget approvals in the Storting determine the stability and direction of the government.

Stortingsvalg have shaped Norwegian political dynamics by translating votes into seats through a proportional framework, influencing long-term policy direction and governance.