Voting in Norway is designed to be simple, secure, and accessible. Whether you are a first-time voter, a long-term resident wondering about local rules, or a Norwegian living abroad, the process is straightforward once you know the basics. I grew up voting at my local school gym like most people here, and over the years I have seen how well the system works in practice.
Short answer: Election Day is Monday 8 September 2025, and many municipalities also open polling stations on Sunday 7 September. You can early vote from 1 July to 8 August if you cannot vote later, and advance vote from 11 August to 5 September at locations across Norway, regardless of where you are registered. Bring valid photo ID. On Election Day, you must vote in the municipality where you were registered as living on 30 June 2025. Norwegians abroad can vote at embassies/consulates or by post during the summer advance period.
Let’s take a deeper dive into how voting works in Norway, with practical tips from someone who has stood in those lines and stamped those ballots plenty of times.
Who can vote in Norway
For parliamentary elections, you must be a Norwegian citizen, be 18 years old by the end of 2025, and be registered in Norway now or previously. If you have ever been registered in the national population register, you are typically on the electoral roll automatically. There is no separate nationwide registration drive like in some countries.
If you are a Norwegian citizen living abroad, you keep your right to vote. If you have lived in Norway at any point within the last ten years, you are usually included automatically in the electoral roll for the municipality where you last lived. If you have lived abroad for more than ten years, you must apply to be added to the electoral roll before you can vote; your application goes to the municipality where you were last registered. The application is brief and can be sent by post or digitally via the municipality’s website.
For local elections (municipal and county), the rules are broader because local democracy is meant to include long-term residents. Foreign citizens may vote in local elections if they have lived in Norway for the last three years before Election Day. Nordic citizens may vote in local elections if they are registered as residents in Norway by 30 June of the election year. If you are a foreign resident, double-check that your address is correctly registered so you appear in the right municipal roll.
There is also the Sámi Parliamentary election, held alongside parliamentary elections. To vote there you must be registered in the Sámi electoral roll; if you qualify and want to participate, make sure you have submitted the form before the deadline.
When you can vote in 2025
Norway offers three time windows so you can vote when it suits your life:
Early voting: 1 July to 8 August.
This option exists for those who know they will be away later or have special circumstances. You can early vote in any municipality in Norway. Opening hours are set locally, so check the website of the municipality where you plan to vote.
Advance voting: 11 August to 5 September.
During this main advance period, you can walk into designated polling places anywhere in the country, even if you are registered somewhere else. This is the most flexible and least stressful time to vote. Many municipalities use libraries, city halls, and shopping centers, and the lines are typically shorter than on Election Day.
Election Day(s): Sunday 7 September and Monday 8 September.
Some municipalities open on Sunday; all open on Monday. On these days, you must vote in your own municipality, which means the municipality where you were officially registered on 30 June 2025.
Where you vote and how to find your station
Each municipality publishes polling locations and opening hours for both the advance period and Election Day. These are usually schools, community centers, or sports halls. Look up your options on your municipality’s website or the national voting portal in the weeks before the election.
If you plan to vote on Election Day, you can use any polling station within your municipality; you are not locked to a single school or address. This is helpful if you want to pop in near work or while running errands.
What to bring
Always bring valid photo ID. The simplest choices are a passport, national ID card, driver’s license, or a bank card with photo. The election worker at the registration desk must be able to verify your identity with your name, date of birth, and photo. If your ID is unusual, bring a second piece of identification to make it easier.
About polling cards: Norway has moved away from traditional paper polling cards. You may receive an information letter digitally or by post, but you do not need to bring a card to vote. ID is the key.
What actually happens at the polling station
The routine is quick and calm. Here is the normal flow:
- Pick up a ballot for the party or list you want to vote for. Ballots are stacked in the voting booth area, and you enter a private booth to make any allowed adjustments.
- Fold the ballot so the party name faces inward.
- Get the ballot stamped by an election worker at the desk outside the booths. This stamp is critical because it confirms the ballot was issued and cast correctly.
- Drop the stamped ballot in the ballot box.
If you need help reading ballots, locating the right list, or understanding how to mark a personal preference where allowed, ask an election worker. They will assist while protecting your privacy.
Voting from abroad
If you will be outside Norway, you can advance vote at embassies and consulates during the summer period. Larger posts often require appointments, and they will list opening hours well in advance. If you live far from a mission, postal voting is also possible following clear instructions about envelopes, declarations, and mailing addresses. Start early so your envelope arrives on time.
If you have been abroad for more than ten years, remember to apply to be included in the electoral roll first. Once approved, you can cast your vote like any other eligible voter abroad.
Voting from home or in an institution
Norway prioritizes access. If illness, disability, or limited mobility makes it hard to get to a polling station, you can apply to vote from home during the advance period. Contact your municipality; many accept phone requests. Two election workers will visit with ballots and a portable ballot box. They will check your ID and guide you through the same steps used at the polling station.
People in health institutions and inmates also have arrangements for advance voting on site. Staff at the institution usually coordinate the details; ask the reception or ward office for dates.
Accessibility and assistance
Polling places are generally wheelchair accessible, with clear signage and staff trained to help. You may bring someone you trust to assist you in the booth if needed, or request assistance from an election worker. If you need ballots in larger print or additional guidance, say so. The goal is that you can vote independently and in secret.
Students, movers, and commuters
Students often split time between a home municipality and a study municipality. You appear in the electoral roll in the municipality where you were registered on 30 June. If you want to vote while you are at university in another city, use advance voting in August at that city’s voting locations. Your ballot will be sent to your home municipality and counted there.
If you moved this summer but your registration did not change before 30 June, you are still tied to your previous municipality for this election year. Again, advance voting anywhere solves the logistics.
Commuters who work in one municipality and live in another usually find it easiest to vote during lunch or after work at an advance voting location near the office.
What if something goes wrong
If you forget your ID on Election Day, try to return later with proper identification. During the advance period, it is usually easier to come back another day. If you believe there is an error in the electoral roll related to your registration, contact your municipality as soon as possible so they can check your details.
If you accidentally damage or mark a ballot incorrectly, ask for a new one. This happens more often than you’d think, especially when people try to fold too quickly. The staff will hand you a fresh ballot without fuss.
Practical tips from a lifelong Norwegian voter
From experience, Monday mid-afternoon tends to be a sweet spot with shorter lines than lunchtime or right after work. If you prefer calm, advance voting at the library or city hall is usually quieter than Election Day at a school. I always pack my ID the night before so I am not tearing up the house on the way out. If you are voting with kids, bring a snack and set expectations; the process is fast, but queues can form at peak times. And truly, do not hesitate to ask an election worker for help. They do this every year and would rather answer a simple question than watch you stress in the booth.
Quick recap for 2025
- Election Day: Monday 8 September; many municipalities also open Sunday 7 September.
- Early voting: 1 July to 8 August, for those who cannot vote later.
- Advance voting: 11 August to 5 September, anywhere in Norway, regardless of where you are registered.
- Bring ID: Passport, national ID card, driver’s license, or bank card with photo.
- Where you are registered: On Election Day, you vote in the municipality where you were registered on 30 June 2025.
- Abroad: Vote at an embassy/consulate or by post during the summer advance period.
- Need assistance: Ask your municipality for home voting or get help at the polling station.
Norway makes it easy to participate. Choose the time that fits your schedule, bring solid ID, follow the stamp-and-box routine, and you are done in minutes. That quiet feeling when you drop the ballot into the box never gets old.