Farmer drives vintage tractor to Iceland EU vote

Gunnhildur Gylfadóttir, a farmer from Svarfaðardalur, drew attention when she drove a nearly half-century-old tractor to a polling station in Dalvík and voted against reopening Iceland’s accession talks with the European Union, mbl.is reported.

She was also wearing an Icelandic national costume. Two Icelandic flags flew from the Massey Ferguson 165, which was built in 1980.

Gunnhildur said the idea came from social media, where she had seen a family travel to vote together on old tractors during the spring local elections. The family, from Litla-Grund in Reykhólahreppur, has reportedly tried to use old tractors to reach polling stations for more than 14 years.

Because repairs to her own tractor had recently been completed, Gunnhildur decided to do the same at the next election. She said her decision to wear the national costume was partly influenced by her position on the vote and by the views of many other farmers who intended to vote no.

“It was incredibly enjoyable,” she told Morgunblaðið. “I could clearly see that it attracted attention on the way. People stopped to wave and take photographs, and one person even followed me to the polling station and took pictures there.”

Gunnhildur also wore bright blue earmuffs to protect against the cold, which she said made a fitting addition to the costume.