utvalgsvalg

Utvalgsvalg is the process in Norwegian local government for electing members to the standing committees (utvalg) within municipal and county councils. The term refers to how council representation is allocated to committees that prepare and oversee decisions on various policy areas. After local elections, the municipal or county council determines the composition of its committees, with the aim of reflecting the overall party distribution in the council.

The committees play a key role in governance by handling preparatory work, drafting proposals, and exercising delegated authority in their areas of responsibility. Common examples of committees include those dealing with finance and administration, health and social services, education and culture, planning and development, and transport or infrastructure. Each committee typically has a chair and deputy chairs, and members are appointed by the council.

The process is influenced by the Local Government Act (kommuneloven) and by local by-laws. While the exact rules vary between municipalities and counties, the general principle is that committee seats are distributed in proportion to the political strength of the parties represented in the council. Coalition agreements or majority/minority arrangements often determine which parties hold committee chairs and how seats are allocated. Some municipalities also use rotation of committee leadership or cross-party representation for certain committees, depending on local practice.

Variation exists across jurisdictions, but utvalgsvalg is a standard mechanism to distribute governance duties among the elected representatives, enabling more specialized oversight and policy development while keeping the full council focused on broad decisions.