Norway

Abstract

Electoral competition began in the nineteenth century, when Norway was governed as a kingdom under the Swedish Crown. It had its own parliament, the Storting. Under the 1814 Constitution the voters consisted of royal officials, freehold and leasehold farmers, owners of urban property, and citizens licensed as merchants and artisans (Rokkan, 1969: 262). About 28 percent of the adult male population was enfranchised. In 1884 citizens paying more than a minimum amount of income tax were also enfranchised and the secret ballot was introduced. In 1898 all men age 25 or over except bankrupts and men receiving public assistance were given the vote. Until 1905 elections were indirect. In each constituency the voters elected members of an electoral college, who then chose the representatives on a plurality basis.