First Reykjavík election results may arrive shortly after midnight

mbl.is reports that the first results from Reykjavík could arrive shortly after midnight, although the city’s final results are more likely to be available around 4 a.m.

The most optimistic estimate is that initial figures could be released between midnight and 1 a.m. Final results could arrive as early as 2 a.m., according to Ólöf Magnúsdóttir, project manager at the Reykjavík City Council office.

Ólöf spoke to mbl.is from Laugardalshöll, a hall where the votes will be counted through the night. Some ballot boxes had already arrived, with a driver bringing in the first ballots as she spoke.

She oversees the counting in Reykjavík’s two constituencies, North and South, where more than 108,000 people are registered to vote. By 5 p.m., turnout stood at 43.97 per cent in the North constituency and 44.58 per cent in the South.

Ólöf cautioned that the count could take longer than expected and said she could not promise a specific timetable. High turnout in the morning means that a large number of ballots will be included in the first count.

Counting is expected to begin at 10 p.m. Ólöf said ballots with only two options, such as yes and no, are much quicker to count than ballots in parliamentary or local elections, where several lists may be involved.

Despite the large number of ballots, she said the counting process was expected to finish earlier than it did in May.

Tags: elections, Reykjavik, vote counting