# 1973 Norwegian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Norway on 9 and 10 September 1973. The Labour Party remained the largest party, winning 62 of the 155 seats in the Storting.

## Contesting parties

| Name | Name | Name | Ideology | Position | Leader | 1969 result | 1969 result |
| Name | Name | Name | Ideology | Position | Leader | Votes (%) | Seats |
| | Ap | Labour Party Arbeiderpartiet | Social democracy | Centre-left | Trygve Bratteli | 46.5% | 74 / 155 |
| | H | Conservative Party Høyre | Conservatism | Centre-right | Kåre Willoch | 18.8% | 29 / 155 |
| | V | Liberal Party Venstre | Social liberalism | Centre | Helge Rognlien | 9.3% | 13 / 155 |
| | Sp | Centre Party Senterpartiet | Agrarianism | Centre | Dagfinn Vårvik | 8.9% | 20 / 155 |
| | KrF | Christian Democratic Party Kristelig Folkeparti | Christian democracy | Centre to centre-right | Lars Korvald | 7.8% | 14 / 155 |
| | SV | Socialist Electoral League Sosialistisk Valgforbund | Socialism Democratic socialism Communism | Left-wing and Far-left | Finn Gustavsen | 3.3% | 1 / 155 |
| | NKP | Communist Party of Norway Norges Kommunistiske Parti | Communism | Far-left | Martin Gunnar Knutsen | 1.0% | 0 / 155 |

## Campaign
### Slogans

| Party | Party | Original slogan | English translation |
| | Labour Party | "Vekst og vern - demokrati og likestilling" | "Growth and protection - democracy and equality" |
| | Conservative Party | | |
| | Centre Party | | |
| | Christian Democratic Party | | |
| | Liberal Party | | |
| | Communist Party of Norway | | |
| Sources: ||||

### Debates

1973 Norwegian general election debates :
| Date | Organisers | P Present  I Invitee N Non-invitee | P Present  I Invitee N Non-invitee | P Present  I Invitee N Non-invitee | P Present  I Invitee N Non-invitee | P Present  I Invitee N Non-invitee | P Present  I Invitee N Non-invitee | P Present  I Invitee N Non-invitee | P Present  I Invitee N Non-invitee | P Present  I Invitee N Non-invitee | P Present  I Invitee N Non-invitee |
| Date | Organisers | Ap | H | V | Sp | KrF | SF | ALP | Dlp | Rv | Refs |
| 4 September | NRK | N | P Kaare Meland | N | N | N | N | P Anders Lange | N | N | |
| 6 September | NRK | P Trygve Bratteli, Reiulf Steen | P Kåre Willoch | P Helge Rognlien | P Dagfinn Vårvik | P Asbjørn Haugstvedt, Lars Korvald | P Finn Gustavsen | P Anders Lange | P Helge Seip | P Sigurd Allern | |
* Politisk kvarter with Anders lange
* Politisk kvarter with Berit Ås og Ragnar Kalheim

## Opinion polls

| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample size | NKP | AKP | SF | Ap | Sp | V | DLF | KrF | H | ALP |
| 1973 election | 9 and 10 September 1973 | – | | | 11.2% | 35.3% | 12.3% | 7.8% | 3.4% | 13.3% | 17.6% | 5.0% |
| Norsk Gallup | September 1973 | – | – | 0.9 | 13.9 | 31.9 | 10.3 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 11.8 | 19.9 | 4.4 |
| Norsk Gallup | Aug 1973 | – | – | 0.5 | 8.5 | 39.7 | 12.2 | 4 | 3.9 | 9.3 | 16.9 | 4.7 |
| Norsk Gallup | July 1973 | – | – | – | 8.2 | 39.7 | 11.1 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 9.9 | 17.3 | 5.9 |
| Norsk Gallup | June 1973 | – | – | 0.5 | 9.8 | 38.7 | 12.8 | 3.5 | 4 | 9.4 | 17.2 | 4.2 |
| Norsk Gallup | May 1973 | – | 1.1 | 0.1 | 6.6 | 39.1 | 11.3 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 9.7 | 19.6 | 5.4 |
| ALP was founded on 8 April 1973 |||||||||||||||
| Norsk Gallup | April 1973 | – | 1.1 | 0.8 | 7.4 | 40.2 | 11.5 | 3.3 | 5.4 | 8 | 22.3 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | March 1973 | – | 1.1 | 0.4 | 7.6 | 43 | 9.7 | 3.3 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 21.7 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | February 1973 | – | 1.1 | – | 6.4 | 41.7 | 10.9 | 2.4 | 5.4 | 8 | 24.1 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | January 1973 | – | 1.2 | – | 6.8 | 43.6 | 12.9 | 3.1 | 4.4 | 7.8 | 20.1 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | December 1972 | – | 1.3 | – | 6.6 | 44.9 | 12.2 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 9.1 | 19 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | November 1972 | – | 1.7 | – | 6.8 | 47.1 | 13.2 | 4.2 | – | 8.9 | 18.1 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | October 1972 | – | 1.7 | – | 5.9 | 48.1 | 13.3 | 5.5 | – | 6.5 | 18.9 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | September 1972 | – | 1 | – | 6.6 | 42.3 | 14.9 | 7.2 | – | 6.7 | 21.4 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | August 1972 | – | 1.6 | – | 7.4 | 44.2 | 11.1 | 8.1 | – | 9.1 | 18.6 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | July 1972 | – | 1.4 | – | 6.4 | 44.2 | 10.7 | 7.3 | – | 8.8 | 21.2 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | June 1972 | – | 1.6 | – | 7.3 | 49.2 | 12.7 | 6.4 | – | 6.8 | 16 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | May 1972 | – | 1.6 | – | 6.7 | 46.4 | 11.8 | 7.8 | – | 6.7 | 19 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | April 1972 | – | 1.8 | – | 6.6 | 43.6 | 14.2 | 7.4 | – | 7.6 | 18.7 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | March 1972 | – | 1.1 | – | 6.9 | 44.7 | 13 | 7.5 | – | 7.5 | 19.3 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | February 1972 | – | 1.3 | – | 6.6 | 43.3 | 13.6 | 9.1 | – | 7.5 | 18.6 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | January 1972 | – | 0.9 | – | 6.6 | 44.5 | 15.9 | 6.9 | – | 7.9 | 17.2 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | December 1971 | – | 0.7 | – | 8.1 | 47.2 | 13.4 | 6.3 | – | 7.9 | 16.5 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | November 1971 | – | 0.8 | – | 6.1 | 44.8 | 13.9 | 7.9 | – | 9.8 | 16.6 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | October 1971 | – | 1.2 | – | 6.7 | 44.1 | 13 | 9 | – | 7.4 | 18.6 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | September 1971 | – | 1.2 | – | 6.8 | 44.2 | 12.9 | 9 | – | 7.2 | 18.6 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | August 1971 | – | 0.5 | – | 5 | 50.6 | 10.1 | 8.8 | – | 7.5 | 17.5 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | July 1971 | – | 1.2 | – | 3.9 | 51.1 | 11.4 | 7.3 | – | 6.4 | 18.7 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | June 1971 | – | 0.9 | – | 3.6 | 52.3 | 12.1 | 5.6 | – | 6.9 | 18.5 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | May 1971 | – | 1.3 | – | 2.7 | 56.2 | 13.5 | 5.1 | – | 7.5 | 13.8 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | April 1971 | – | 0.8 | – | 2.9 | 54.6 | 12.7 | 6.5 | – | 9 | 13.5 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | March 1971 | – | 0.8 | – | 2.6 | 56.4 | 11 | 7.1 | – | 7.8 | 14.4 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | February 1971 | – | 1.3 | – | 2.8 | 51 | 12.5 | 7.5 | – | 7.9 | 16.9 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | January 1971 | – | 0.5 | – | 2.7 | 56.7 | 11.7 | 5.9 | – | 7.5 | 14.9 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | December 1970 | – | 0.6 | – | 2.4 | 58.7 | 8.1 | 5.8 | – | 8.2 | 16.2 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | November 1970 | – | 0.6 | – | 2.1 | 57.6 | 7.6 | 6.6 | – | 8.9 | 16.6 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | October 1970 | – | 0.9 | – | 2.2 | 57.7 | 9.8 | 6.3 | – | 7.7 | 15.4 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | September 1970 | – | 0.8 | – | 1.9 | 57.3 | 10.4 | 6 | – | 7.9 | 15.8 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | August 1970 | – | 0.4 | – | 6.8 | 57.3 | 8.3 | 8.8 | – | 1.1 | 17.3 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | July 1970 | – | 0.8 | – | 2.9 | 53 | 8.7 | 8.9 | – | 7 | 18.6 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | June 1970 | – | 1 | – | 1.7 | 54.4 | 9.5 | 7.1 | – | 8.3 | 17.9 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | May 1970 | – | 0.8 | – | 1.9 | 59 | 7.5 | 6.7 | – | 7.9 | 16.2 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | April 1970 | – | 0.8 | – | 2.3 | 53.9 | 8.9 | 6.9 | – | 9.6 | 17.4 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | March 1970 | – | 1.1 | – | 1.5 | 60.3 | 7.6 | 6 | – | 7.6 | 15.9 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | February 1970 | | 1.1 | – | 2.5 | 54.7 | 7 | 7.1 | – | 6.4 | 21.3 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | January 1970 | – | 0.9 | – | 2.1 | 59.5 | 8 | 5.8 | – | 8.8 | 14.8 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | December 1969 | – | 1.4 | – | 3.3 | 52.9 | 9.7 | 6.6 | – | 8.8 | 17.3 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | November 1969 | – | 0.6 | – | 3.6 | 53.3 | 9.6 | 7.4 | – | 8 | 17.5 | – |
| Norsk Gallup | October 1969 | – | 0.7 | – | 1.7 | 55.9 | 10 | 6.6 | – | 8.8 | 16.3 | – |
| | 7 and 8 September 1969 | – | | – | 3..9% | 46.5% | 12.9% | 9.4% | – | 11.7% | 22.7% | – |

## Results

| | Labour Party | 759,499 | 35.29 | 62 | –12 |
| | Conservative Party | 370,370 | 17.21 | 29 | 0 |
| | Christian Democratic Party | 255,456 | 11.87 | 19 | +6 |
| | Socialist Electoral League | 241,851 | 11.24 | 16 | +16 |
| | Centre Party | 146,312 | 6.80 | 13 | +1 |
| | Anders Lange's Party | 107,784 | 5.01 | 4 | New |
| | Centrists–Liberals | 97,639 | 4.54 | 7 | – |
| | New People's Party | 73,854 | 3.43 | 1 | New |
| | Liberal Party | 49,668 | 2.31 | 1 | –11 |
| | Centrists–Liberals–Christians | 21,783 | 1.01 | 3 | – |
| | Red Electoral Alliance | 9,360 | 0.43 | 0 | New |
| | Conservatives–Christians | 8,669 | 0.40 | 0 | – |
| | Single Person's Party | 5,113 | 0.24 | 0 | New |
| | Democratic Party | 2,125 | 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| | Women's Free Deputies | 1,866 | 0.09 | 0 | New |
| | Lapp People's List | 849 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 |
| | Other parties | 6 | 0.00 | 0 | – |
| Total | Total | 2,152,204 | 100.00 | 155 | +5 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 2,152,204 | 99.84 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 3,530 | 0.16 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 2,155,734 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 2,686,676 | 80.24 | | |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver ||||||

### Voter demographics

| Cohort | Percentage of cohort voting for | Percentage of cohort voting for | Percentage of cohort voting for | Percentage of cohort voting for | Percentage of cohort voting for | Percentage of cohort voting for | Percentage of cohort voting for | Percentage of cohort voting for |
| Cohort | Ap | H | KrF | Sp | SF | V | ALP | Others |
| Total vote | 35.3% | 17.6% | 13.3% | 12.3% | 11.2% | 7.8% | 5.0% | |
| Gender |||||||||
| Females | 39.3% | 18.3% | 16.4% | 6.3% | 7.8% | 2.1% | 2.9% | |
| Males | 32.4% | 16.6% | 8.4% | 7.2% | 14% | 2.3% | 6.9% | |
| Age |||||||||
| 18–30 years old | 30.4% | 14.4% | 10.4% | 6.4% | 17.6% | 1.6% | 12% | |
| 30-59 years old | 36.8% | 15.7% | 9.4% | 6.9% | 12.8% | 2.2% | 4.2% | |
| 60 years old and older | 35% | 22.2% | 18.2% | 7.1% | 5.1% | 3% | 3.4% | |
| Work |||||||||
| low income | 35.6% | 11.7% | 22.3% | 11% | 9.5% | 3% | 4.5% | |
| Average income | 39.6% | 11% | 11.9% | 6.2% | 14.3% | 2.9% | 4.1% | |
| High income | 30.4% | 27.7% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 9.7% | 1.1% | 6.5% | |
| Education |||||||||
| Primary school | 56% | 5.9% | 12.7% | 5.9% | 12.7% | 2.3% | 1.6% | |
| High school | 32.5% | 14.8% | 13.2% | 8% | 11.5% | 2.4% | 5.6% | |
| University/college | 11.1% | 43.7% | 6.8% | 4.7% | 8.4% | 2.1% | 8.9% | |
| Source: Norwegian Institute for Social Research |||||||||

### Seat distribution

| Constituency | Total seats | Seats won | Seats won | Seats won | Seats won | Seats won | Seats won | Seats won | Seats won |
| Constituency | Total seats | Ap | H | Sp | KrF | SV | ALp | V | DNF |
| Akershus | 10 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | |
| Aust-Agder | 4 | 2 | 1 | | 1 | | | | |
| Buskerud | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | | 1 | | | |
| Finnmark | 4 | 2 | 1 | | | 1 | | | |
| Hedmark | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | | 1 | | | |
| Hordaland | 15 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | | 1 |
| Møre og Romsdal | 10 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | | 1 | |
| Nord-Trøndelag | 6 | 3 | | 2 | 1 | | | | |
| Nordland | 12 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | |
| Oppland | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
| Oslo | 15 | 6 | 5 | | 1 | 2 | 1 | | |
| Østfold | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | |
| Rogaland | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | | |
| Sogn og Fjordane | 5 | 2 | | 2 | 1 | | | | |
| Sør-Trøndelag | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | |
| Telemark | 6 | 2 | 1 | | 1 | 1 | | 1 | |
| Troms | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | |
| Vest-Agder | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | |
| Vestfold | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | | |
| Total | 155 | 62 | 29 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Source: Norges Offisielle Statistikk ||||||||||