On Friday, polling stations across the country closed for advance voting. Almost 1.3 million have voted in advance in this year’s municipal and county council elections. The Norwegian Electoral Directorate has figures going back to 1995, and has never had a higher number of early votes in a municipal council or county council election in this period, according to NTB. Monday is the last chance to vote. One of those who have waited to vote until election day itself is party leader in the Conservative Party, Erna Solberg. In familiar Bergen weather, she arrived with her husband at Skjold school in Bergen just before 10.30am. – It is important for me to vote in Bergen on election day. It is a time of celebration, says Solberg after putting the ballots in the ballot box. The Prime Minister has cast his vote. Polling stations throughout the country opened at 09.00 on Monday. Just under half an hour later, Prime Minister and party leader in the Labor Party, Jonas Gahr Støre, made his way to the ballot boxes at Uranienborg School in Oslo. – I think the election campaign has been good because I think it has been about local issues. I have visited from north to south, and east to west and that is how it should be in a municipal election. I feel that it is the matters that are important in the municipality that have been the most important, says the Prime Minister. Jonas Gahr Støre casts his vote at this year’s municipal and county council elections. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB – I hope for as good a result as possible. Also, it is not the national figures that are most important today. It is the figures in each individual municipality that we must monitor. Even in Bergen In Bergen, opinion polls have shown that it is very even, and therefore it is completely open who will be the next city council leader. Current city council leader Rune Bakervik (Ap) brought his family to Nordnes school on Monday morning to vote. Current city council leader in Bergen, Rune Bakervik (Ap), cast his vote at Nordnes School in Bergen. Photo: Hannah Bøthun / news – I’m a bit “old school” about it. I think it is very solemn to vote on election day. Then I have as a tradition that I vote together with my family, and dress up a little extra. I think it’s very nice to vote on election day itself, says Bakervik. For a long time it seemed to be moving towards a change of power in Norway’s second largest city. But the latest and most recent news survey showed that the Conservative Party has lost much of its lead. City council leader candidate for Bergen Høyre, Christine Meyer, will vote at 12.00.
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