Primary school pupils voted for the local council today.
The City of Hafnarfjörður answered the Children's Ombudsman's call and held elections in Hafnarfjörður's primary schools today. The children led the way, thereby reinforcing their knowledge of how democracy works.
The children learn about local elections
A, B, C, D, M and S. This was the choice that primary school pupils in Hafnarfjörður had in the primary schools' children's election today – the same choice as will be in the local council elections here in Hafnarfjörður on Saturday.
RÚV's children's news visited Hvaleyrarskóli during the election. Pupils in years 5-10 voted there at lunchtime. A polling station had been set up in the library, and the atmosphere was really electric. The count is now underway for all the schools, but the results will be announced after the polls close on Saturday evening. The children, however, will have to wait until they are eighteen for their votes to count in the election itself.
Great excitement before the elections
The atmosphere is buzzing ahead of the elections. Year 8 will be re-electing the student council at Hvaleyrarskóli tomorrow, as six pupils have chosen to learn more about the electoral process in an elective course, and these elections are part of that project. This same group formed the electoral commission at Hvaleyrarskóli today and did an excellent job.
But what did the children have to go on? How did they decide what to vote for? Representatives from the town's Youth Council led the video production, with each candidate having their own representative. The questions were selected from the results of the Hafnarfjörður Children's Assembly, which was held for pupils in Years 5 to 7 this April.
The Education and Public Health Department of Hafnarfjörður produced the video with Rec Media, and the candidates told representatives of the Youth Council about their parties' priorities.
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Let's answer the Children's Ombudsman's call
The Children's Ombudsman is urging all local authorities, local youth councils and the country's primary schools to organise events that promote democratic participation by children in the run-up to the 2026 local elections. The Ombudsman also encouraged children's elections, such as the ones held in the municipality today.
Of course, the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður answers that call, as it is a child-friendly municipality.