Reykjavík South () is one of the six multi-member constituencies of the Althing, the national legislature of Iceland. The constituency was established in 2003 when the existing Reykjavík constituency was split into two. The constituency currently elects nine of the 63 members of the Althing using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2024 parliamentary election it had 47,619 registered electors.
History In March 1843 King Christian VIII of Denmark issued a royal decree converting the Althing into a consultative assembly. It consisted to 20 members popularly elected from single-member constituencies, one of which was Reykjavík. In the subsequent decades the electoral process, size of Althing and constituencies changed several time. Reykjavík became a two-member constituency in 1903 (effective 1904). In 1920 (effective 1923) it became a four-member constituency using proportional representation. It became a six-member constituency in 1934 and an eight-member constituency in 1942.
One of the main reasons for the changes was the shift in population from rural to urban areas, particularly Reykjavík. The changes however always lagged behind population shifts. This resulted in rural constituencies being over-represented in the Althing. The disproportionately in the voting power of rural and urban voters was as high as 10:1 by the mid 20th century. The over-representation of rural constituencies favoured the Progressive Party, whose support base was mostly farmers. The party was over-represented in Althing even after the introduction of compensatory seats (equalisation seas) in 1934.
The constituencies were radically altered in 1959 when the single and two-member constituencies were abolished and replaced by seven multi-member constituencies using proportional representation. The number of seats allocated to Reykjavík was increased from 8 to 12 at the same time. This reduced the disproportionately in the voting power of rural and urban voters to 3:1.
In September 1997 Prime Minister Davíð Oddsson appointed a committee headed by Friðrik Klemenz Sophusson to review the division of constituencies in Iceland and the organisation of elections. The committee's report was published in October 1998 and recommended, amongst other things, that the number of constituencies be reduced and that they be more equal in population size. The Althing passed an amendment to the constitution in June 1999 which removed the reference to specific eight constituencies contained within Article 31 and instead simply stated that there would be six or seven constituencies and that the Althing would determine the boundaries between the constituencies. The amendment also required that if, following an election to Althing, the number of registered electors per seat (including compensatory seats) in any constituency is less than half of that in another constituency, the National Electoral Commission shall change the allocation of seats so as to reduce the imbalance. This reduced the disproportionately in the voting power of rural and urban voters to 2:1.
Reykjavík South was one of six constituencies () established by the "Elections to the Althing Act no. 24/2000" () passed by the Althing in May 2000. The Act required that, when an election to Althing had been called, the National Electoral Commission had to determine the boundaries between the Reykjavík South and Reykjavík North constituencies so that the number of registered electors per seat (including compensatory seats) is approximately the same. The Act initially allocated eleven seats to the constituency - nine constituency seats and two compensatory seats.
Electoral system Reykjavík South currently elects nine of the 63 members of the Althing using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. Constituency seats are allocated using the D'Hondt method. Compensatory seats (equalisation seas) are calculated based on the national vote and are allocated using the D'Hondt method at the constituency level. Only parties that reach the 5% national threshold compete for compensatory seats.
Election results Summary Election Left-GreenV / U Social DemocratsS People'sF PirateP / Þ ViðreisnC ProgressiveB IndependenceD CentreM Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats2024 1,080 2.90% 0 8,541 22.93% 3 5,022 13.48% 1 1,445 3.88% 0 6,581 17.66% 2 1,638 4.40% 0 6,553 17.59% 2 3,917 10.51% 12021 5,212 14.68% 1 4,720 13.29% 1 3,169 8.93% 1 3,875 10.91% 1 3,067 8.64% 1 4,077 11.48% 1 8,089 22.78% 3 1,456 4.10% 02017 6,750 18.90% 2 4,661 13.05% 1 2,914 8.16% 1 4,076 11.41% 1 3,043 8.52% 1 2,897 8.11% 1 8,145 22.80% 2 2,701 7.56% 02016 6,149 17.63% 2 1,945 5.58% 0 1,614 4.63% 0 6,030 17.29% 2 4,440 12.73% 1 2,564 7.35% 1 8,930 25.60% 3 2013 4,279 12.12% 1 5,007 14.18% 2 2,179 6.17% 0 5,931 16.80% 2 9,466 26.82% 3 2009 8,106 22.88% 2 11,667 32.94% 3 3,435 9.70% 1 8,211 23.18% 2 2007 5,065 14.35% 1 10,234 29.00% 3 2,081 5.90% 0 13,846 39.23% 5 2003 3,438 9.32% 1 12,286 33.30% 3 4,185 11.34% 1 14,029 38.03% 4 (Excludes compensatory seats.)
Detailed 2020s 2024 Results of the 2024 parliamentary election held on 30 November 2024:
Party Votes % Seats Social Democratic Alliance S 8,541 22.93% 3 0 3 Viðreisn C 6,581 17.66% 2 0 2 Independence Party D 6,553 17.59% 2 1 3 People's Party F 5,022 13.48% 1 1 2 Centre Party M 3,917 10.51% 1 0 1 Socialist Party of Iceland J 2,091 5.61% 0 0 0 Progressive Party B 1,638 4.40% 0 0 0 Pirate Party P 1,445 3.88% 0 0 0 Left-Green Movement V 1,080 2.90% 0 0 0 Democratic Party L 388 1.04% 0 0 0Valid votes 37,256 100.00% 9 2 11Blank votes 337 0.89% Rejected votes – other 72 0.19% Total polled 37,665 79.10% Registered electors 47,619
The following candidates were elected: Constituency seats - Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir (D), 6,463.17 votes; Hildur Sverrisdóttir (D), 5,437.67 votes; Inga Sæland (F), 5,017.50 votes; Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson (S), 8,504.67 votes; Jón Gnarr (C), 4,776.25 votes; Kristján Þórður Snæbjarnarson (S), 5,688.17 votes; Ragna Sigurðardóttir (S), 7,120.50 votes; Snorri Másson (M), 3,883.67 votes; and Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir (C), 6,547.50 votes. Compensatory seats - Jón Pétur Zimsen (D), 4,382.17 votes; and Kolbrún Baldursdóttir (F), 3,757.75 votes.
2021 Results of the 2021 parliamentary election held on 25 September 2021:
Party Votes % Seats Independence Party D 8,089 22.78% 3 0 3 Left-Green Movement V 5,212 14.68% 1 1 2 Social Democratic Alliance S 4,720 13.29% 1 0 1 Progressive Party B 4,077 11.48% 1 0 1 Pirate Party P 3,875 10.91% 1 1 2 People's Party F 3,169 8.93% 1 0 1 Viðreisn C 3,067 8.64% 1 0 1 Socialist Party of Iceland J 1,691 4.76% 0 0 0 Centre Party M 1,456 4.10% 0 0 0 Liberal Democratic Party O 148 0.42% 0 0 0Valid votes 35,504 100.00% 9 2 11Blank votes 580 1.60% Rejected votes – other 117 0.32% Total polled 36,201 79.19% Registered electors 45,716
The following candidates were elected: Constituency seats - Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir (D), 7,990.50 votes; Birgir Ármannsson (D), 5,391.67 votes; Björn Leví Gunnarsson (P), 3,865.25 votes; Hanna Katrín Friðriksson (C), 3,056.67 votes; Hildur Sverrisdóttir (D), 6,719.17 votes; Inga Sæland (F), 3,168.00 votes; Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir (S), 4,714.33 votes; Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir (B), 4,041.00 votes; and Svandís Svavarsdóttir (V), 5,127.50 votes. Compensatory seats - Arndís Anna K. Gunnarsdóttir (P), 2,904.25 votes; and Orri Páll Jóhannsson (V), 3,926.50 votes.
2010s 2017 Results of the 2017 parliamentary election held on 28 October 2017:
Party Votes % Seats Independence Party D 8,145 22.80% 2 0 2 Left-Green Movement V 6,750 18.90% 2 0 2 Social Democratic Alliance S 4,661 13.05% 1 0 1 Pirate Party P 4,076 11.41% 1 1 2 Viðreisn C 3,043 8.52% 1 0 1 People's Party F 2,914 8.16% 1 0 1 Progressive Party B 2,897 8.11% 1 0 1 Centre Party M 2,701 7.56% 0 1 1 Bright Future A 449 1.26% 0 0 0 People's Front of Iceland R 85 0.24% 0 0 0Valid votes 35,721 100.00% 9 2 11Blank votes 769 2.10% Rejected votes – other 108 0.30% Total polled 36,598 80.29% Registered electors 45,584
The following candidates were elected: Constituency seats - Ágúst Ólafur Ágústsson (S), 4,634.00 votes; Brynjar Níelsson (D), 5,884.75 votes; Hanna Katrín Friðriksson (C), 3,035.67 votes; Inga Sæland (F), 2,912.00 votes; Kolbeinn Óttarsson Proppé (V), 5,056.25 votes; Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir (B), 2,894.33 votes; Sigríður Á. Andersen (D), 7,952.50 votes; Svandís Svavarsdóttir (V), 6,680.75 votes; and Þórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir (P), 4,049.25 votes. Compensatory seats - Björn Leví Gunnarsson (P), 3,050.75 votes; and Þorsteinn B. Sæmundsson (M), 2,695.33 votes.
2016 Results of the 2016 parliamentary election held on 29 October 2016:
Party Votes % Seats Independence Party D 8,930 25.60% 3 0 3 Left-Green Movement V 6,149 17.63% 2 0 2 Pirate Party P 6,030 17.29% 2 0 2 Viðreisn C 4,440 12.73% 1 1 2 Progressive Party B 2,564 7.35% 1 0 1 Bright Future A 2,518 7.22% 0 1 1 Social Democratic Alliance S 1,945 5.58% 0 0 0 People's Party F 1,614 4.63% 0 0 0 Dawn T 578 1.66% 0 0 0 People's Front of Iceland R 79 0.23% 0 0 0 Humanist Party H 33 0.09% 0 0 0Valid votes 34,880 100.00% 9 2 11Blank votes 755 2.11% Rejected votes – other 150 0.42% Total polled 35,785 78.18% Registered electors 45,770
The following candidates were elected: Constituency seats - Ásta Guðrún Helgadóttir (P), 5,975.25 votes; Brynjar Níelsson (D), 7,399.33 votes; Gunnar Hrafn Jónsson (P), 4,515.50 votes; Hanna Katrín Friðriksson (C), 4,405.25 votes; Kolbeinn Óttarsson Proppé (V), 4,613.00 votes; Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir (B), 2,555.00 votes; Ólöf Nordal (D), 8,823.00 votes; Sigríður Á. Andersen (D), 5,957.67 votes; and Svandís Svavarsdóttir (V), 6,080.75 votes. Compensatory seats - Nichole Leigh Mosty (A), 2,497.33 votes; and Pawel Bartoszek (C), 3,322.75 votes.
2013 Results of the 2013 parliamentary election held on 27 April 2013:
Party Votes % Seats Independence Party D 9,466 26.82% 3 0 3 Progressive Party B 5,931 16.80% 2 0 2 Social Democratic Alliance S 5,007 14.18% 2 0 2 Left-Green Movement V 4,279 12.12% 1 0 1 Bright Future A 3,790 10.74% 1 1 2 Pirate Party Þ 2,179 6.17% 0 1 1 Households Party I 1,394 3.95% 0 0 0 Dawn T 1,163 3.29% 0 0 0 Iceland Democratic Party L 1,025 2.90% 0 0 0 Right-Green People's Party G 575 1.63% 0 0 0 Sturla Jónsson K 222 0.63% 0 0 0 Rainbow J 161 0.46% 0 0 0 Humanist Party H 55 0.16% 0 0 0 People's Front of Iceland R 54 0.15% 0 0 0Valid votes 35,301 100.00% 9 2 11Blank votes 794 2.19% Rejected votes – other 133 0.37% Total polled 36,228 80.17% Registered electors 45,187
The following candidates were elected: Constituency seats - Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson (D), 5,957.7 votes; Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir (D), 9,305.8 votes; Helgi Hjörvar (S), 3,729.3 votes; Karl Garðarsson (B), 4,502.3 votes; Pétur Blöndal (D), 7,850.7 votes; Róbert Marshall (A), 3,698.8 votes; Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir (S), 4,943.0 votes; Svandís Svavarsdóttir (V), 4,225.0 votes; and Vigdís Hauksdóttir (B), 5,701.5 votes. Compensatory seats - Jón Þór Ólafsson (Þ), 2,093.3 votes; and Óttarr Proppé (A), 2,838.0 votes.
2000s 2009 Results of the 2009 parliamentary election held on 25 April 2009:
Party Votes % Seats Social Democratic Alliance S 11,667 32.94% 3 1 4 Independence Party D 8,211 23.18% 2 1 3 Left-Green Movement V 8,106 22.88% 2 0 2 Progressive Party B 3,435 9.70% 1 0 1 Citizens' Movement O 3,076 8.68% 1 0 1 Liberal Party F 700 1.98% 0 0 0 Democracy Movement P 226 0.64% 0 0 0Valid votes 35,421 100.00% 9 2 11Blank votes 1,388 3.76% Rejected votes – other 117 0.32% Total polled 36,926 84.41% Registered electors 43,747
The following candidates were elected: