Majority Holds, But New Faces Likely In Reykjavik City Council

Municipal elections are tomorrow, and the last poll before ballots are cast shows some things will remain the same, but there may be some changes in store.

According to the last poll from Fréttablaðið before tomorrow’s elections, the current City Council majority (with the exception of Bright Future, who are not running) is holding. However, there may be some new parties at the table as well.

The Social Democrats are polling strongest, with 32% of respondents saying they intend to vote for this party. This would translate into nine seats of 23 on City Council. The Pirates are polling at about 10% and the Left-Greens have 7.5%, giving them two seats each. As such, Reykjavík’s current majority – even without Bright Future – would be able to hold, having 13 seats in all.

The Independence Party is polling at 26%, and have been in a steady decline for the past few weeks. They would get seven seats if these polling numbers bear out after the votes are counted. The Progressive Party, with 3.6%, would win one seat.

Not that things may stay entirely the same. At least two parties new to municipal government – the Reform Party and the Centre Party – are currently polling high enough to each win a seat on City Council. Further, other polls have shown the Socialist Party on the knife’s edge of winning a seat.

As a reminder, you do not have to be an Icelandic citizen to vote in municipal elections. You can find all the information you need to vote here.

For full election coverage – including the parties running, who they are, and interviews with many of the immigrant candidates running – check out Grapevine’s Elections 2018 feature.