If a voters cannot vote on election day , voting outside election day is available. Voting may take place before election day, such as with District Commissioners or abroad.

Voting in Iceland - at the office of a District Commissioner

Voters in Iceland can vote at the offices of District Commissioners and in some municipalities. The offices of District Commissioners may be located here. The District Commissioner of the capital area has opened election offices in Holtagarðar.

Voting abroad

Voters must contact embassies or consuls in the country concerned to ascertain where and when to vote. Identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, is required. A list of Icelandic embassies and consuls may be accessed here.

If a voter is in doubt as to where and how to vote abroad, he/she is advised to contact the citizens’ service of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs through hjalp@utn.is or by telephone, +354 5459900.

Absentee voting before election day

The voter identifies him/herself with documents or in another adequate manner at the voting place and is provided with:

• a ballot

• an envelope for the ballot

• a document to go with the ballot

• another envelope for posting

The ballot before election day is empty. It does not have the names of candidates. The voter writes or stamps the name of the presidential candidate he/she votes for on the ballot.

The letter accompanying the ballot contains information on the voter and where the ballot shall be sent. It must be signed by the voter and the election officer.

The voter is responsible for sending the ballot to the right place. The letter can be posted, or it can be handed to someone who the voter entrusts with the task of bringing it to the right place. Up to election day, the election officer is obligated, if the voter so wishes, to post the letter.

A voter who votes in the district of the District Commissioner where he/she is in the Election Register he/she can place the letter into a ballot box there.

Election at institutions

Under certain circumstances, voting at institutions can be authorised, such as for example:

• hospitals

• nursing homes

• institutions for the disabled

• prisons

The District Commissioner advertises where and when one can vote in such places.

Instructions regarding absentee voting in hospitals, nursing homes, institutions for the disabled and prisons may be viewed here, in Icelandic.

Voting at home

If a voter cannot vote on election day due to illness, disability or childbirth, a vote at home is allowed.

In order to vote at home, an application in writing must be presented to a District Commissioner before 10 a.m. two days before election day. An individual having attained majority must confirm the state of the applicant, i.e., that the person in question cannot attend a voting session due to illness, disability, or childbirth. Voting can take place three weeks before election day at the earliest. A request for voting at home must reach the election officer no later than two days before election day.