Madame Chair,
I would like to inform the members of the Permanent Council that Norway will hold regular elections to the Parliament – Stortinget – on Monday 13 September. Several municipalities will also hold elections on Sunday 12 September.
Norway has made several changes in the election law, both permanent ones and temporary changes due to the covid-19 pandemic. These include changes in the right to - and provisions on - assistance on election day, and several measures for voters in quarantine, infection control and related issues.
ODIHR has been duly informed, and an invitation has been extended to observe the elections in accordance with the Copenhagen Commitments of the OSCE and other election- related commitments. We hope it will be possible to send an observer mission to Norway also this year and encourage participating States to second participants to such a mission.
Thank you.