Presidential Elections in Iceland 2024 – Will you be the next one?

On the 1st of June, 2024, presidential elections will be held in Iceland. The incumbent president is Guðni Th. Jóhannesson. He was elected as a president on 25th of July, 2016.

When Guðni announced he would not be seeking re-election after the end of his second term, most were surprised. Actually, many were quite disappointed because Guðni has been a very popular and well-liked president. Many hoped he would continue.

The presidency in Iceland holds significant symbolic and ceremonial importance, representing the unity and sovereignty of the nation.

While the president’s powers are limited and largely ceremonial, the position carries moral authority and serves as a unifying figure for the Icelandic people.

Therefore, the presidential elections are not only a political event but also a reflection of Iceland’s values, aspirations, and collective identity.

In Guðni’s opinion, no one is indispensable, and has said this to explain his decision:

“Throughout my presidency, I have felt the goodwill, support and warmth of the people in the country. If we look at the world, it is not given that the elected head of state gets to experience that, and for that I am deeply grateful. Resigning now is in the spirit of the saying that the game should be stopped when the highest point is reached. I am satisfied and look forward to what the future holds.”

Right from the beginning he said that he would serve two or three terms maximum. In the end he decided to stop after two terms and is ready for a new chapter in his life, he says.

The fact is, that a new president needs to be elected soon. Already, quite a few have announced that they will be running for president, some of them well known by the Icelandic nation, others not.

To be able to run for president in Iceland, a person must have reached the age of 35 and be an Icelandic citizen. Each candidate needs to gather a specific number of endorsements, which varies based on the population distribution in different regions of Iceland.

You can find more information about the endorsement process here and how you can collect endorsements. Now for the first time, collection of endorsements can be done online.

As the election date approaches, the landscape of candidates may evolve, with contenders presenting their platforms and gathering support from voters across the country.

More information about electoral candidacy and candidacy submission, can be found here.

To be able to vote for a president in Iceland, you need to be an Icelandic citizen, have a legal domicile in Iceland and have reached the age of 18 on election day. These criteria ensure that the electorate comprises individuals with a stake in Iceland’s future and commitment to the democratic process.

More information about voter eligibility, how to vote and much more, can be found here.