EDRIElection Dispute Resolution Index
How robust are mechanisms to resolve election disputes?
Dimensions
Contest
100.0% · 5/5| Datapoint | Score | Rationale & evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CONT.EDRI.1Standing enumeratedAre the parties with standing to contest an election (candidate, party, qualified voters of the precinct, AG, etc.) enumerated in statute? | 1/1100.0% | § 16-5 codifies standing to complain about election validity. § 16-2 / § 16-3 codify standing for Storting and county-election preparation/conduct complaints (any voter with voting right in the district, candidate-list affiliated parties, etc.). § 16-10 codifies the National Election Board's procedure to dismiss or accept complaints. Comprehensive standing-enumeration codified. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
| CONT.EDRI.2Venue & jurisdictionIs the court of original jurisdiction for election contests specified by statute? | 1/1100.0% | § 16-9 codifies the National Election Board (Riksvalgstyret) complaint-handling procedure — the primary venue for election complaints. § 4-1 codifies the Board's independent status. § 16-12 (not in FTS top-5 for this datapoint) codifies Supreme Court (Høyesterett) review of Storting validity decisions. § 15-1 codifies Storting validity decisions. Multi-tier venue framework codified. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
| CONT.EDRI.3Filing deadlineIs the deadline for filing an election contest (days after certification, or after a defined event) specified by statute? | 1/1100.0% | § 16-6 codifies complaint filing deadlines. § 5-7 codifies candidate-list deadline (12:00 31 March). § 21-4 codifies time-period calculations. § 21-5 codifies missed-deadline procedure. Statutory deadlines for election contests codified. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
| CONT.EDRI.4Standard of proof & evidenceAre the standard of proof and admissibility rules for election-contest evidence codified in statute? | 2/2100.0% | § 16-11(1)(a) codifies the standard of proof for invalidation: 'balance of probabilities' (sannsynlighetsovervekt) that violations of Constitution, statute, or regulation affected mandate distribution. § 16-11(1)(b) extends to Penal Code §§ 151-154 violations. § 16-11(2) codifies overall assessment by Riksvalgstyret. Explicit codified standard of proof. “når bestemmelser i Grunnloven, lov eller forskrift om hvordan valg skal forberedes og gjennomføres, er brutt, og det er sannsynlighetsovervekt for at dette har påvirket den samlede fordelingen av mandatene mellom listene” | § view source 2026-05-19 |
Recount
50.0% · 2/4| Datapoint | Score | Rationale & evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| RECT.1Statutory recount procedureAre recount procedures (who counts, how, with what evidence) defined in statute, not regulation or administrative directive? | 1/1100.0% | § 10-11 codifies the second-count procedure: ballots from the first count are counted anew, by manual or machine method as the election board decides. § 10-8 codifies the manual first count. § 10-12 codifies control during the second count. § 10-14 codifies counting/registration/control by district and county election boards. Comprehensive dual-count + recount procedure codified. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
| RECT.2Recount triggers enumeratedAre the triggers for an automatic or petition-based recount enumerated in statute (margin thresholds, sworn challenge, etc.)? | 0/10.0% | § 22-1 codifies entry into force. § 6-6 codifies order rules. Recount triggers (beyond the universal dual-count mandate) are not separately enumerated — every ballot is already counted twice under § 10-5, so 'trigger-based recount' is moot. Further recount triggers via complaint per § 16-11. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
| RECT.3Recount cost allocationIs the cost of a petition-based recount allocated by statute (who pays under what outcome)? | 0/10.0% | No candidate sections returned by FTS. | no FTS match 2026-05-19 |
| RECT.4Recount-finding effectAre the legal effects of a recount finding (binding, advisory, mandatory amendment) codified in statute? | 1/1100.0% | § 10-11(5) codifies that 'the result of the second count shall be announced' (Resultatet av den andre opptellingen skal kunngjøres) — the second count is binding for the canvass. § 11-7 codifies the leveling-mandate calculation based on second-count results. § 10-8 codifies the first count. Recount-finding effect codified. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
Timing
100.0% · 2/2| Datapoint | Score | Rationale & evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIME.1Certification deadline in statuteIs the certification deadline (when the result becomes 'official') set by statute, not by administrative discretion? | 1/1100.0% | § 16-6 codifies complaint-filing deadlines (and by reference the certification windows). § 21-4 codifies time-period calculations. § 5-7 codifies candidate-list deadline. § 17-3 codifies acting representatives during re-election (timing). Certification deadlines codified throughout. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
| TIME.2Pre-certification stayDoes statute provide a mechanism to stay certification while a recount or contest is pending? | 1/1100.0% | § 18-2 codifies extended/postponed county or municipal elections, or re-elections, in extraordinary circumstances — the Cabinet (Kongen i statsråd) may extend or postpone the election day. § 18-1 codifies parallel for Storting elections. § 18-4 codifies counting timing during extension. § 15-1 codifies Storting validity decisions — Storting cannot decide validity before complaint resolution. Pre-certification stay mechanism explicitly codified. | § view source 2026-05-19 |