# Southwest (Althing constituency)

Southwest (Icelandic: Suðvestur) is one of the six multi-member constituencies of the Althing, the national legislature of Iceland. The constituency was established in 2003 following the re-organisation of constituencies across Iceland when the Reykjanes constituency was split between the new South and Southwest constituencies. Southwest is conterminous with the Capital region but excludes Reykjavík Municipality which has its own constituencies, Reykjavík North and Reykjavík South. The constituency currently elects 12 of the 63 members of the Althing using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2024 parliamentary election it had 79,087 registered electors.

## History

In September 1997 Prime Minister Davíð Oddsson appointed a committee headed by Friðrik Klemenz Sophusson to review the division of constituencies in Iceland and the organisation of elections. The committee's report was published in October 1998 and recommended, amongst other things, that the number of constituencies be reduced and that they be more equal in population size. The Althing passed an amendment to the constitution in June 1999 which removed the reference to specific eight constituencies contained within Article 31 and instead simply stated that there would be six or seven constituencies and that the Althing would determine the boundaries between the constituencies. The amendment also required that if, following an election to Althing, the number of registered electors per seat (including compensatory seats) in any constituency is less than half of that in another constituency, the National Electoral Commission shall change the allocation of seats so as to reduce the imbalance.
Southwest was one of six constituencies (kjördæmi) established by the "Elections to the Althing Act no. 24/2000" (Lög um kosningar til Alþingis, nr. 24/2000) passed by the Althing in May 2000. The Act initially allocated 11 seats to the constituency - nine constituency seats and two compensatory seats. The number of seats allocated to Southwest was increased to 12 (ten constituency and two compensatory) in May 2003, 13 (11 constituency and two compensatory) in May 2013 and 14 (12 constituency and two compensatory) in October 2021.

## Electoral system

Southwest currently elects 12 of the 63 members of the Althing using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. Constituency seats are allocated using the D'Hondt method. Compensatory seats (equalisation seas) are calculated based on the national vote and are allocated using the D'Hondt method at the constituency level. Only parties that reach the 5% national threshold compete for compensatory seats.

## Election results
### Summary

| Election | Left-Green V / U | Left-Green V / U | Left-Green V / U | Social Democrats S | Social Democrats S | Social Democrats S | People's F | People's F | People's F | Pirate P / Þ | Pirate P / Þ | Pirate P / Þ | Viðreisn C | Viðreisn C | Viðreisn C | Progressive B | Progressive B | Progressive B | Independence D | Independence D | Independence D | Centre M | Centre M | Centre M |
| Election | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats |
| 2024 | 987 | 1.54% | 0 | 12,324 | 19.27% | 3 | 7,014 | 10.97% | 1 | 1,778 | 2.78% | 0 | 12,829 | 20.06% | 3 | 3,792 | 5.93% | 0 | 14,997 | 23.45% | 3 | 7,689 | 12.02% | 2 |
| 2021 | 7,087 | 12.09% | 1 | 4,748 | 8.10% | 1 | 4,436 | 7.57% | 1 | 4,853 | 8.28% | 1 | 6,684 | 11.40% | 1 | 8,520 | 14.54% | 2 | 17,727 | 30.25% | 4 | 2,612 | 4.46% | 0 |
| 2017 | 7,591 | 13.62% | 2 | 6,771 | 12.15% | 1 | 3,616 | 6.49% | 0 | 4,641 | 8.33% | 1 | 5,277 | 9.47% | 1 | 4,425 | 7.94% | 1 | 17,216 | 30.89% | 4 | 5,282 | 9.48% | 1 |
| 2016 | 6,378 | 11.97% | 1 | 2,532 | 4.75% | 0 | 1,742 | 3.27% | 0 | 7,227 | 13.56% | 2 | 6,857 | 12.86% | 1 | 44,062 | 7.62% | 1 | 18,049 | 33.86% | 5 | | | |
| 2013 | 3,995 | 7.86% | 1 | 6,932 | 13.64% | 2 | | | | 2,541 | 5.00% | 0 | | | | 10,944 | 21.53% | 3 | 15,608 | 30.71% | 4 | | | |
| 2009 | 8,473 | 17.40% | 2 | 15,669 | 32.17% | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 5,627 | 11.55% | 1 | 13,463 | 27.64% | 3 | | | |
| 2007 | 5,232 | 11.55% | 1 | 12,845 | 28.37% | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 3,250 | 7.18% | 1 | 19,307 | 42.64% | 5 | | | |
| 2003 | 2,671 | 6.24% | 0 | 14,029 | 32.75% | 4 | | | | | | | | | | 6,387 | 14.91% | 1 | 16,456 | 38.42% | 4 | | | |
(Excludes compensatory seats.)

### Detailed
#### 2020s
##### 2024

Results of the 2024 parliamentary election held on 30 November 2024:
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Con. | Com. | Tot. |
| | Independence Party | D | 14,997 | 23.45% | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| | Viðreisn | C | 12,829 | 20.06% | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| | Social Democratic Alliance | S | 12,324 | 19.27% | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| | Centre Party | M | 7,689 | 12.02% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| | People's Party | F | 7,014 | 10.97% | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| | Progressive Party | B | 3,792 | 5.93% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Socialist Party of Iceland | J | 1,820 | 2.85% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Pirate Party | P | 1,778 | 2.78% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Left-Green Movement | V | 987 | 1.54% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Democratic Party | L | 728 | 1.14% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 63,958 | 100.00% | 12 | 2 | 14 |
| Blank votes | Blank votes | Blank votes | 570 | 0.88% | | | |
| Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | 31 | 0.05% | | | |
| Total polled | Total polled | Total polled | 64,559 | 81.63% | | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 79,087 | | | | |
The following candidates were elected:
* Constituency seats - Alma Möller (S), 12,217.17 votes; Bergþór Ólason (M), 7,580.00 votes; Bjarni Benediktsson (D), 14,451.88 votes; Bryndís Haraldsdóttir (D), 11,324.75 votes; Eiríkur Björn Björgvinsson (C), 8,579.67 votes; Guðmundur Ari Sigurjónsson (S), 10,272.83 votes; Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson (F), 7,008.00 votes; Nanna Margrét Gunnlaugsdóttir (M), 5,786.50 votes; Sigmar Guðmundsson (C), 10,640.50 votes; Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir (D), 12,660.50 votes; Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir (C), 12,698.83 votes; and Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir (S), 8,166.00 votes.
* Compensatory seats - Jónína Björk Óskarsdóttir (F), 5,262.00 votes; and Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir (D), 9,373.62 votes.

##### 2021

Results of the 2021 parliamentary election held on 25 September 2021:
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Con. | Com. | Tot. |
| | Independence Party | D | 17,727 | 30.25% | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| | Progressive Party | B | 8,520 | 14.54% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| | Left-Green Movement | V | 7,087 | 12.09% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Viðreisn | C | 6,684 | 11.40% | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| | Pirate Party | P | 4,853 | 8.28% | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| | Social Democratic Alliance | S | 4,748 | 8.10% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | People's Party | F | 4,436 | 7.57% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Centre Party | M | 2,612 | 4.46% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Socialist Party of Iceland | J | 1,738 | 2.97% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Liberal Democratic Party | O | 203 | 0.35% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 58,608 | 100.00% | 11 | 2 | 13 |
| Blank votes | Blank votes | Blank votes | 1,095 | 1.83% | | | |
| Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | 117 | 0.20% | | | |
| Total polled | Total polled | Total polled | 59,820 | 81.17% | | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 73,699 | | | | |
The following candidates were elected:
* Constituency seats - Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson (B), 6,377.75 votes; Bjarni Benediktsson (D), 17,548.75 votes; Bryndís Haraldsdóttir (D), 13,301.38 votes; Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson (V), 7,035.33 votes; Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson (F), 4,431.00 votes; Jón Gunnarsson (D), 15,421.50 votes; Óli Björn Kárason (D), 11,089.00 votes; Willum Þór Þórsson (B), 8,508.50 votes; Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir (C), 6,582.25 votes; Þórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir (P), 4,833.00 votes; and Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir (S), 4,683.33 votes.
* Compensatory seats - Gísli Rafn Ólafsson (P), 3,639.50 votes; and Sigmar Guðmundsson (C), 5,032.00 votes.

#### 2010s
##### 2017

Results of the 2017 parliamentary election held on 28 October 2017:
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Con. | Com. | Tot. |
| | Independence Party | D | 17,216 | 30.89% | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| | Left-Green Movement | V | 7,591 | 13.62% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| | Social Democratic Alliance | S | 6,771 | 12.15% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Centre Party | M | 5,282 | 9.48% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Viðreisn | C | 5,277 | 9.47% | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| | Pirate Party | P | 4,641 | 8.33% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Progressive Party | B | 4,425 | 7.94% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | People's Party | F | 3,616 | 6.49% | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | Bright Future | A | 846 | 1.52% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | People's Front of Iceland | R | 75 | 0.13% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 55,740 | 100.00% | 11 | 2 | 13 |
| Blank votes | Blank votes | Blank votes | 1,261 | 2.20% | | | |
| Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | 254 | 0.44% | | | |
| Total polled | Total polled | Total polled | 57,255 | 82.33% | | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 69,544 | | | | |
The following candidates were elected:
* Constituency seats - Bjarni Benediktsson (D), 16,738.00 votes; Bryndís Haraldsdóttir (D), 15,056.75 votes; Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson (M), 5,184.00 votes; Guðmundur Andri Thorsson (S). 6,759.67 votes; Jón Gunnarsson (D), 12,851.50 votes; Jón Þór Ólafsson (P), 4,624.00 votes; Ólafur Þór Gunnarsson (V), 5,672.75 votes; Óli Björn Kárason (D), 10,784.12 votes; Rósa Björk Brynjólfsdóttir (V), 7,580.75 votes; Willum Þór Þórsson (B), 4,405.67 votes; and Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir (C), 5,116.25 votes.
* Compensatory seats - Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson (F), 3,611.33 votes; and Jón Steindór Valdimarsson (C), 3,972.25 votes.

##### 2016

Results of the 2016 parliamentary election held on 29 October 2016:
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Con. | Com. | Tot. |
| | Independence Party | D | 18,049 | 33.86% | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| | Pirate Party | P | 7,227 | 13.56% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| | Viðreisn | C | 6,857 | 12.86% | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| | Left-Green Movement | V | 6,378 | 11.97% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Bright Future | A | 5,458 | 10.24% | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| | Progressive Party | B | 4,062 | 7.62% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Social Democratic Alliance | S | 2,532 | 4.75% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | People's Party | F | 1,742 | 3.27% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Dawn | T | 893 | 1.68% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | People's Front of Iceland | R | 103 | 0.19% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 53,301 | 100.00% | 11 | 2 | 13 |
| Blank votes | Blank votes | Blank votes | 1,197 | 2.19% | | | |
| Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | 169 | 0.31% | | | |
| Total polled | Total polled | Total polled | 54,667 | 80.11% | | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 68,240 | | | | |
The following candidates were elected:
* Constituency seats - Bjarni Benediktsson (D), 17,778.60 votes; Bryndís Haraldsdóttir (D), 16,152.90 votes; Eygló Harðardóttir (B), 3,894.67 votes; Jón Gunnarsson (D), 14,342.70 votes; Jón Þór Ólafsson (P), 7,211.00 votes; Óli Björn Kárason (D), 12,603.90 votes; Óttarr Proppé (A), 5,449.00 votes; Rósa Björk Brynjólfsdóttir (V), 6,373.67 votes; Vilhjálmur Bjarnason (D), 10,771.90 votes; Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir (C), 6,300.50 votes; and Þórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir (P), 5,412.00 votes.
* Compensatory seats - Jón Steindór Valdimarsson (C), 5,268.25 votes; and Theodóra S. Þorsteinsdóttir (A), 4,090.00 votes.

##### 2013

Results of the 2013 parliamentary election held on 27 April 2013:
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Con. | Com. | Tot. |
| | Independence Party | D | 15,608 | 30.71% | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| | Progressive Party | B | 10,944 | 21.53% | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| | Social Democratic Alliance | S | 6,932 | 13.64% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| | Bright Future | A | 4,687 | 9.22% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Left-Green Movement | V | 3,995 | 7.86% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Pirate Party | Þ | 2,541 | 5.00% | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | Dawn | T | 1,927 | 3.79% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Households Party | I | 1,838 | 3.62% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Iceland Democratic Party | L | 1,241 | 2.44% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Right-Green People's Party | G | 925 | 1.82% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Rainbow | J | 188 | 0.37% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 50,826 | 100.00% | 11 | 2 | 13 |
| Blank votes | Blank votes | Blank votes | 1,091 | 2.10% | | | |
| Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | 131 | 0.25% | | | |
| Total polled | Total polled | Total polled | 52,048 | 82.45% | | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 63,125 | | | | |
The following candidates were elected:
* Constituency seats - Árni Páll Árnason (S), 6,843.8 votes; Bjarni Benediktsson (D), 14,868.7 votes; Eygló Harðardóttir (B), 10,879.2 votes; Guðmundur Steingrímsson (A), 4,664.7 votes; Jón Gunnarsson (D), 12,470.0 votes; Katrín Júlíusdóttir (S), 5,201.5 votes; Ögmundur Jónasson (V), 3,901.3 votes; Ragnheiður Ríkharðsdóttir (D), 13,969.2 votes; Vilhjálmur Bjarnason (D), 10,751.8 votes; Willum Þór Þórsson (B), 9,098.5 votes; and Þorsteinn B. Sæmundsson (B), 7,307.7 votes.
* Compensatory seats - Birgitta Jónsdóttir (Þ), 2,527.7 votes; and Elín Hirst (D), 9,142.7 votes.

#### 2000s
##### 2009

Results of the 2009 parliamentary election held on 25 April 2009:
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Con. | Com. | Tot. |
| | Social Democratic Alliance | S | 15,669 | 32.17% | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| | Independence Party | D | 13,463 | 27.64% | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| | Left-Green Movement | V | 8,473 | 17.40% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| | Progressive Party | B | 5,627 | 11.55% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Citizens' Movement | O | 4,428 | 9.09% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Liberal Party | F | 741 | 1.52% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Democracy Movement | P | 302 | 0.62% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 48,703 | 100.00% | 10 | 2 | 12 |
| Blank votes | Blank votes | Blank votes | 1,519 | 3.02% | | | |
| Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | 93 | 0.18% | | | |
| Total polled | Total polled | Total polled | 50,315 | 86.45% | | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 58,202 | | | | |
The following candidates were elected:
* Constituency seats - Árni Páll Árnason (S), 15,243.9 votes; Bjarni Benediktsson (D), 13,075.1 votes; Guðfríður Lilja Grétarsdóttir (V), 8,304.7 votes; Katrín Júlíusdóttir (S), 13,561.4 votes; Ögmundur Jónasson (V), 6,285.5 votes; Ragnheiður Ríkharðsdóttir (D), 9,965.1 votes; Siv Friðleifsdóttir (B), 5,259.0 votes; Þór Saari (O), 4,410.0 votes; Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir (D), 10,900.6 votes; and Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir (S), 10,859.1 votes.
* Compensatory seats - Jón Gunnarsson (D), 8,460.6 votes; and Magnús Orri Schram (S), 9,930.9 votes.

##### 2007

Results of the 2007 parliamentary election held on 12 May 2007:
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Con. | Com. | Tot. |
| | Independence Party | D | 19,307 | 42.64% | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| | Social Democratic Alliance | S | 12,845 | 28.37% | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| | Left-Green Movement | V | 5,232 | 11.55% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Progressive Party | B | 3,250 | 7.18% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Liberal Party | F | 3,051 | 6.74% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Icelandic Movement – Living Country | I | 1,599 | 3.53% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 45,284 | 100.00% | 10 | 2 | 12 |
| Blank votes | Blank votes | Blank votes | 611 | 1.33% | | | |
| Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | 94 | 0.20% | | | |
| Total polled | Total polled | Total polled | 45,989 | 84.25% | | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 54,584 | | | | |
The following candidates were elected:
* Constituency seats - Ármann Kr. Ólafsson (D), 15,978.8 votes; Bjarni Benediktsson (D), 17,473.7 votes; Gunnar Svavarsson (S), 12,712.1 votes; Jón Gunnarsson (D), 14,476.1 votes; Katrín Júlíusdóttir (S), 11,224.4 votes; Ögmundur Jónasson (V), 5,199.0 votes; Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir (D), 12,896.4 votes; Siv Friðleifsdóttir (B), 3,169.0 votes; Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir (D), 19,133.2 votes; and Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir (S), 9,623.2 votes.
* Compensatory seats - Árni Páll Árnason (S), 8,047.2 votes; and Ragnheiður Ríkharðsdóttir (D), 11,222.3 votes.

##### 2003

Results of the 2003 parliamentary election held on 10 May 2003:
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Con. | Com. | Tot. |
| | Independence Party | D | 16,456 | 38.42% | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| | Social Democratic Alliance | S | 14,029 | 32.75% | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| | Progressive Party | B | 6,387 | 14.91% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Liberal Party | F | 2,890 | 6.75% | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | Left-Green Movement | U | 2,671 | 6.24% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | New Force | N | 399 | 0.93% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 42,832 | 100.00% | 9 | 2 | 11 |
| Blank votes | Blank votes | Blank votes | 372 | 0.86% | | | |
| Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | Rejected votes – other | 42 | 0.10% | | | |
| Total polled | Total polled | Total polled | 43,246 | 88.54% | | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 48,842 | | | | |
The following candidates were elected:
* Constituency seats - Árni Mathiesen (D), 16,147.7 votes; Gunnar Birgisson (D), 14,289.2 votes; Guðmundur Árni Stefánsson (S), 13,791.0 votes; Katrín Júlíusdóttir (S), 8,814.4 votes; Rannveig Guðmundsdóttir (S), 12,268.9 votes; Sigríður Anna Þórðardóttir (D), 13,080.9 votes; Siv Friðleifsdóttir (B), 6,298.0 votes; Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir (D), 11,589.9 votes; and Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir (S), 10,534.0 votes.
* Compensatory seats - Bjarni Benediktsson (D), 9,923.4 votes; and Gunnar Örn Örlygsson (F), 2,868.0 votes.