Every four years, Norway elects representatives to the Norwegian parliament, the Storting.
Norwegian citizens aged 18 or older by the end of the election year have the right to vote in parliamentary elections. Anyone eligible to vote may stand for election to the Storting, except for certain office-holders such as judges and serving members of the military.
How are the seats distributed in parliament?
The Storting consists of 169 representatives from 19 constituencies. Of these, 150 hold directly-elected constituency seats, which match fylke or county boundaries as they were before a 2020 reform which reduced the number of these counties from 19 to 11.
The distribution of seats between the constituencies is recalculated ahead of every parliamentary election based on the 19 constituencies' population and area -- Oslo, for example, has 20 representatives, while Rogaland has 14. In order to be eligible for a seat in parliament, a party must obtain more than 4 percent of the national vote.
Norway's current government is led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of the Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet). In Norway’s parliamentary system, the Prime Minister is formally appointed by King Harald V and must maintain the confidence of the Storting to stay in office.
Given the large number of parties and distribution of seats, this usually means Norway is governed by a coalition or a minority government which has the confidence of a majority of other parties.
The main opposition consists of the Conservative party (Høyre) and the Progress Party (FrP), both of which are challenging Labour in what is expected to be a tight election on September 8th.
As of the current parliamentary term (2021–2025), nine political parties are represented in the Storting.
Arbeiderpartiet (Labour Party, Ap). Leader: Jonas Gahr Støre
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre's Labour Party currently heads Norway’s government. A natural counterpart to Social Democratic parties in many European countries including neighbouring Denmark and Sweden, Labour's policies including higher welfare spending compared to their main rivals, the Conservatives. It is an advocate of generous sick pay rules and other elements of the social welfare system. Labour is a pro-European party which wants to retain Norway's membership of the EEA.
Høyre (Conservative Party). Leader: Erna Solberg
The Conservative Party is Norway’s main opposition party and is led by Erna Solberg, who was prime minister from 2013 to 2021. The party broadly advocates for strict immigration requirements, lower taxes and a strong private sector. It is generally a backer of oil production, the main source of Norway's sovereign wealth. Like Labour, a Conservative-led government would continue increased spending on defence in the coming years.
Fremskrittspartiet (Progress Party, FrP). Leader: Sylvi Listhaug
The national conservative Progress Party is Norway's longstanding populist, anti-immigration party. Among its strict immigration policies are calls for tougher citizenship requirements. Other policies including support for tax cuts including an abolition of Norway's wealth tax, and a cut on emissions taxes.
Senterpartiet (Centre Party). Leader: Trygve Slagsvold Vedum
Although it was part of a coalition government with the Labour Party until leaving over energy policy disagreements earlier this year, the agrarian Centre Party espouses immigration policies that might seem more at home on the right wing. This can be explained by the party's rural focus and voter base. For example, it opposes Norwegian EU membership and is skeptical of EU integration in energy policy, preferring local control.
Sosialistisk Venstreparti (Socialist Left Party, SV). Leader: Kirsti Bergstø
Centre-left party SV adopts positions typical of the left of the political spectrum while remaining mainstream. This includes vocal support on topics like inclusivity and equality and stronger international cooperation to secure the right to asylum. SV wants what it terms "progressive" taxation, which it says should be used to enhance equality and welfare. It is also a strong advocate of green energy policies. and is therefore more critical of oil production than the larger parties closer to the centre.
Rødt (Red Party). Leader: Marie Sneve Martinussen
As you might guess from its name, the Red party is the furthest-left of all those either currently elected to parliament. Its stated positions include international solidarity, high taxation on wealth to fund welfare, climate-focused development and a religiously neutral public sector.
Venstre (Liberal Party). Leader: Guri Melby
The centrist Liberal party has a distinct anti-discrimination line, personified by leader Guri Melby who has often spoken out against hostile rhetoric towards refugees. Other Liberal platforms include a plan to abolish tax on Norwegian business ownership and support for EU membership.
Miljøpartiet De Grønne (Green Party, MDG). Leader: Arild Hermstad
Norway's Green Party cleared the 4 percent parliamentary threshold by a whisker in 2021, giving it a handful of representatives in the Storting. Exceeding that threshold again is the party's core election target for 2025. Policies include phasing out oil, taxing emissions, simpler regulations for migrant workers and pursuit of more pro-ecological and environmental legislation.
Kristelig Folkeparti (Christian Democratic Party, KrF). Leader: Dag Inge Ulstein
The socially conservative KrF cites Christian family values as the basis for its social policies. Its other policies include emissions reduction targets and cuts to wealth tax.
Ok. But which one of them would/should I vote for?
Many Norwegian media offer “Valgomat” questionnaires designed to help voters figure out which political party aligns best with their own opinions.
Using these online tools, you can answer a series of questions about policies and values on topics like tax, immigration, climate, and healthcare. The "election-metre" then calculates which parties match your views most closely.
You can find a Valgomat on the website of broadcasters NRK and TV2, and newspapers VG and Dagbladet among several others.
How do I vote?
On election day, you must vote in the municipality where you were registered as a resident. You can vote at any polling station within the municipality.
Every person with the right to vote will receive information from the Norwegian Directorate of Elections (Valgdirektoratet), confirming will confirm your right to vote. This will be in the form of a secure digital mail unless you have opted out of this, in which case it will be a physical letter.
In the past, polling cards were issued to all voters but this is no longer the case as of 2025. To be able to vote, you only need to bring a valid ID to the polling station in the form of a passport, national ID card or driving licence.
EXPLAINED: How to vote in Norway’s 2025 general election
How and when do we know who has won?
The initial results should be available on election night, and the final official results and validation are concluded in the days and weeks following. However, negotiations between parties to form a government can become drawn out, especially if the election is close.
The new Storting is scheduled to open October 11th, by which time it is likely that the new government and prime minister will have been confirmed.
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