Referendum turnout outpaces 2024 parliamentary election

Turnout in the referendum appears to be strong, with participation in Reykjavík significantly higher than during the 2024 parliamentary election, mbl.is reports.

By 11 a.m., 3,944 voters, or 8.16% of those registered, had cast ballots in Reykjavík North. At the same point in the parliamentary election two years earlier, turnout was 5.18%.

In Reykjavík South, 4,020 voters, or 8.49% of those registered, had voted by 11 a.m. The corresponding figure in the 2024 parliamentary election was 5.65%.

By midday on Friday, 59,364 people had voted early across Iceland, including 39,258 in the capital region. With 272,690 people registered to vote, nearly 22% had cast their ballots by then.

Sigríður Kristinsdóttir, the district commissioner for the capital region, said the early-voting turnout was an absolute record.