Recording elections

These records, called the protocols, are the electoral committees' report on how the election was conducted. What the protocols should contain is determined by the Norwegian Directorate of Elections and they are public documents. An overview of the contents of the protocols is provided below:

Key figures in the conduct of elections

The key figures are an overview of important figures in the conduct of elections in municipalities and include turnout rate, number of approved votes, and number of rejected votes.

A – Administrative matters

The first chapter in the electoral committee's protocol, 'Administrative matters', provides information about who was on the municipal electoral committee and where in the municipality voting took place in polling stations.

B – Preliminary count of advance votes

This contains information about early votes, advance votes, and late arriving advance votes, including the total number of votes cast (categorised by different types of votes, e.g. how many early votes have been received and how many advance votes from abroad have been received). It also presents any rejected votes along with the reason for their rejection.

In addition it shows a preliminary count of advance votes that shows the party distribution, number of blank ballot papers, and number of doubtful ballot papers, as well as the municipality's comments on any discrepancies.

C – Preliminary count of polling station votes

This contains information about the votes cast at polling stations, including an overview of votes divided by the different types of vote, for example how many ordinary polling station votes and how many votes in special envelopes were received in all districts. There will likely also be some rejected votes and explanations of why they were rejected.

It will also contain information about the preliminary count. Where this information appears in this chapter depends on whether the count took place in the polling stations or centrally in the municipality. The count will show the party distribution, number of blank ballot papers, and number of doubtful ballot papers. If the municipalities have comments on any discrepancies, these will be found here.

D – Final count

The chapter containing the final count is divided into the count of advance votes and the count of polling station votes. This shows the final party distribution, number of blank ballot papers, and rejected ballot papers by reason for rejection. This chapter also contains an overview of discrepancies between the preliminary and final count, and explanations of any discrepancies.

E – Electoral counts in municipal council elections

The tables under chapter E show the municipalities' electoral count with the distribution of seats and return of candidates.

Signatures

Members of the electoral committee who were present at the meeting in which the electoral records were approved must sign the protocol.