Icelandic parliamentary election, 1844

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Parliamentary elections were held in Iceland in 1844. [1] They were the first elections in the country's history. [2]

Iceland island republic in Northern Europe

Iceland is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic, with a population of 348,580 and an area of 103,000 km2 (40,000 sq mi), making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe. The capital and largest city is Reykjavík, with Reykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country being home to over two-thirds of the population. Iceland is volcanically and geologically active. The interior consists of a plateau characterised by sand and lava fields, mountains, and glaciers, and many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle. Its high latitude and marine influence keep summers chilly, with most of the archipelago having a tundra climate.

Contents

Electoral system

The Althing was composed of 26 members, twenty of which were elected and six of which were appointed by the monarch. The twenty members were elected in single-member constituencies by plurality voting. Each voter had two votes, with the runner-up becoming the MP's deputy. [3] Voting was restricted to male property owners over the age of 25. [2]

Althing unicameral parliament of Iceland

The Alþingi is the national parliament of Iceland. It is the oldest surviving parliament in the world, a claim shared by Tynwald. The Althing was founded in 930 at Þingvellir, situated approximately 45 kilometres (28 mi) east of what later became the country's capital, Reykjavík. Even after Iceland's union with Norway in 1262, the Althing still held its sessions at Þingvellir until 1800, when it was discontinued for 45 years. It was restored in 1844 and moved to Reykjavík, where it has resided ever since. The present parliament building, the Alþingishús, was built in 1881, made of hewn Icelandic stone.

Results

Elected members

MemberConstituency
Jón Johnsen Árnessýsla
Eyjólfur Einarsson Barðastrandarsýsla
Hannes Stephensen Borgarfjarðarsýsla
Þorvaldur Sívertsen Dalasýsla
Stefán Jónsson Eyjafjarðarsýsla
Jón Guðmundsson Gullbringu–Kjósarsýsla
Þorgrímur Tómasson Gullbringu–Kjósarsýsla
Magnús R. Ólsen Húnavatnssýsla
Jón Sigurðsson Ísafjarðarsýsla
Helgi Helgason Mýrasýsla
Þorsteinn Gunnarsson Norður-Múlasýsla
Jakob Pétursson Norður-Þingeyjarsýsla
Skúli Thorarensen Rangárvallasýsla
Árni Helgason Reykjavík
Jón Guðmundsson Skaftafellssýsla
Jón Samsonarson Skagafjarðarsýsla
Kristján Magnusen Snæfellsnessýsla
Ásgeir Einarsson Strandasýsla
Sveinn Sveinsson Suður-Múlasýsla
Þorsteinn Pálsson Suður-Þingeyjarsýsla

Appointed members

Bjarni Thorsteinsson
Björn Blöndal
Halldór Jónsson
Helgi Thordersen
Páll Melsteð
Þórður Jónasson
Þórður Sveinbjörnsson

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References

  1. Arend Lijphart and Bernard Grofman (2007) The Evolution of Electoral and Party Systems in the Nordic Countries, Algora Publishing, p105
  2. 1 2 Gudmundur Halfdanarson (2008) Historical Dictionary of Iceland, Scarecrow Press, p52
  3. Lijphart and Grofman, p103