According to the Constitution of Iceland the President of Iceland shall be elected by a direct vote for a period of four years, commencing 1 August of the election year. Five persons have held the office of the President of Iceland since the Establishment of the Republic 17 June 1944 until 1 August 2016
A presidential election was held in Iceland 25 June 2016. The total number of voters on the electoral roll was 244,896 or 73.6% of the total population. Participation of voters in the election was 185,430 or 75.7%. Participation of male voters was 72.4% and female voters 79.0%. The participation varied by age, it was lower among young voters than the older ones. The turnout was lowest amongst 20–24 years old, 63.1% and 18–19 years old, 63.8%. The highest turnout was of people aged 65–74, 87%. The participation in previous presidential elections was highest in 1968, 92.2% but lowest in 2004, 62.9%.
The number of absentee votes in the 2016 presidential election, was 42,761 votes or 23.1% of votes cast, a similar percentage as in 2012 when it was the highest in general elections up until then.
Nine candidates took part in the election. Valid votes were 182,608, blank ballots 2,080 and void ballots 702. The results of the election were the following:
- Andri Snær Magnason 26,037 votes (14.3%)
- Ástþór Magnússon 615 votes (0.3%)
- Davíð Oddsson 25,108 votes (13.7%)
- Elísabet Kristín Jökulsdóttir 1,280 votes (0.7%)
- Guðni Th. Jóhannesson 71,356 votes (39.1%)
- Guðrún Margrét Pálsdóttir 477 votes (0.3%)
- Halla Tómasdóttir 50,995 votes (27.9%)
- Hildur Þórðardóttir 294 votes (0.2%)
- Sturla Jónsson 6,446 votes (3.5%)
Guðni Th. Jóhannesson was thus elected President of Iceland for the period 1 August 2016 until 31 July 2020.
Presidential election 25 June 2016 - Statistical Series
Statistics:
Overview
Presedential elections