Municipal and county elections, 11 September 2023 

Storm Hans, August 2023

On 7 and 8 August 2023, the eastern and southern regions of Norway experienced one of the most significant storms in decades. Storm Hans was characterized by intense precipitation – with warnings of up to 100 mm per day (Messori and Faranda 2024). The heaviest rainfall in nearly a century (see: Sanna 2025; Sæther 2023) led to local flooding, landslides and extensive damage. Affected areas included Ål, Hol, Nesbyen and Hønefoss (Cycle Norway 2023). Private properties, farmland and public infrastructure were damaged (Sæther 2023) and two casualties were reported (Messori and Faranda 2024). Around 2,000 people were evacuated, largely in the country’s highly populated eastern regions (IFRC Climate Centre 2023).  

Estimates of the financial damage ranged from around EUR 150 million (Haveraaen 2023) to at least 170 million (NOK 200 million) (Nikel 2023). One example of infrastructure damage was the collapse of a railway bridge in southeastern Norway across the Laagen River (AP 2023). During the floods, the main highway between Oslo and Trondheim together with the rail link were closed (Nikel 2023). Overall, storm Hans was an exceptional weather event strengthened in part by natural climate variability and in part by human-driven climate change (Messori and Faranda 2024).  

Impact on the electoral process  

Advance voting for the 2023 municipal and county council elections started on 10 August (Norwegian Government 2023).Four municipalities experienced challenges in the initial phase of this period due to the floods. In one, there were difficulties with transporting equipment and operating polling stations. In another, roads and public buildings were closed so that early votes were not registered in time, and one of the two advance voting polling stations had trouble opening. ICT contingency procedures were activated in one municipality because of flooding in a server room, with temporary loss of a secure network. There was also one case of an advance voting polling station having to be relocated (Norwegian Government 2025).  

Looking ahead—while elections are not explicitly mentioned—the Norwegian Civil Protection Act empowers authorities to safeguard critical infrastructure and central societal functions during emergencies. This is through measures such as municipal risk and vulnerability analyses (§14), emergency preparedness planning (§15), public warning systems (§16), evacuation procedures (§17) and requisition of property (§§25–28). Under the Electoral Act (§ 18.2) the election period can be extended up to one day, or postponed, in case of extraordinary conditions likely to prevent a significant proportion of voters from voting (Norwegian Government 2021). However, there was no question of postponement as these provisions had yet to enter into force (in 2024); the 2023 elections took place under prior (2002) legislation. 

For the Municipal council elections, voter turnout was 62.4 per cent, with 49.1 per cent of these being advance votes. This compared with a 64.7 per cent turnout in 2019, with 33.8 per cent of votes being advance votes. In the County council elections, turnout was 57.3 per cent with 48.5 per cent of  votes being advance votes. This compared with a 59.5 per cent turnout in 2019, with 32.4 per cent of votes being advance votes (Norwegian Directorate of Elections n.d.a; Norwegian Directorate of Elections n.d.b). Across both types of councils elected, there was thus a 2.3 per cent drop in turnout in 2023 – and a 15–16 per cent rise in advance voting.