Senior electoral commissions of municipalities, district electoral commissions and local electoral commissions.
The municipal council shall elect the members of a municipality’s senior electoral commission as soon as possible after municipal elections. The term of office for a senior electoral commission shall be the same as that of the municipal council. Senior electoral commissions shall administer the conduct of municipal elections, each in their own municipality. Senior electoral commission members shall at all times be prepared to attend meetings without prior notice on polling day to take decisions and make rulings in connection with the election if necessary.
In any municipality divided into polling wards, the municipal council shall elect the same number of local electoral commissions as there are polling wards. Wherever there is more than one polling ward at the same polling station, the municipal council may also elect a district electoral commission to administer the election activities at the polling station under delegation from the senior electoral commission of the municipality. In a municipality not divided into polling wards, a single electoral commission shall serve as the senior and local electoral commissions.
Each senior electoral commission shall be composed of three members, with the same number of alternates. Each local electoral commission and district electoral commission shall be composed of three members, with a sufficient number of alternates. Electoral commission members shall have the right to vote in the municipality. Electoral commissions shall elect a chairperson and allocate tasks among their members in other respects.
If a political organisation standing for election and represented on the municipal council does not have an elected representative on the senior electoral commission of the municipality, it may nominate an observer to sit on the commission, and another as an alternate. Observers shall have the same rights as elected members, except for the right to vote.
In carrying out their duties, electoral commissions shall be independent of the decision-making powers of the municipal council.
The municipal council engages staff to assist it with elections. Advertising such positions is not mandatory. The senior electoral commission of a municipality may entrust municipal staff with tasks relating to the conduct of elections.
The senior electoral commission of a municipality must, with sufficient notice prior to elections, publicise the location of its premises where it will be present during the election.
Registers Iceland shall provide the senior electoral commissions of municipalities with access to its records and systems free of charge to enable them to perform their role.
