Elections for the post of rector of the University of Iceland will take place on Monday 13 April 2015. The successful candidate will be appointed for the period 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2020. Three individuals have applied for the post of rector, and these are the only candidates. They are Einar Steingrímsson, Professor at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland; Guðrún Nordal, Professor and Director of the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies; and Jón Atli Benediktsson, Professor and Pro-Rector of Academic Affairs at the University of Iceland.
Elections will be conducted online. Polling will begin at 9 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.
In the event that no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, a second election will take place on 20 April between the two candidates who received the most votes.
14,110 individuals are on the electoral roll: 1,485 members of staff and 12,625 students.
As of 1 p.m. on Friday 13 March, and until 1 p.m. on Monday 23 March, a printout of the electoral roll will be available from the information desk in the foyer of the University of Iceland Main Building. The information desk is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays.
From 16 March, voters will also be able to check in Ugla whether they appear on the electoral roll and the weighting of their vote. Voters must use their Ugla username and password in order to vote in the online election.
The deadline for submitting complaints regarding the electoral roll is 5 p.m. on 30 March 2015. The election board shall rule on any complaints before 1 April.
Absentee voting shall be conducted in the traditional manner using paper ballots. This shall begin on 1 April 2015, 1 a.m., in room 224 on the second floor of the University of Iceland Main Building, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., all working days. Absentee voting will no longer be possible after 4 p.m. on 12 April.
Overview
Election day
Online voting shall begin at 9 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. on Monday 13 April 2015.
In the event that no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, a second election will take place on Monday 20 April between the two candidates who received the most votes.
Right to vote
Professors, senior lecturers (associate professors), lecturers (assistant professors), research scientists, research scholars and research specialists hired or appointed to a full-time position, together with other persons hired or appointed to a full-time position at the University or its institutes, shall have the right to vote in elections for rector. 75% employment or higher shall be considered a full-time position. 37-74% employment shall confer half a vote. Employment lower than 37% shall not confer voting rights. Should an individual hold a position at 50% employment or higher, as well as a position at an institute with which the University has signed an agreement on cooperation within a school, this staff member shall be considered to hold a full-time position. All students registered at the University of Iceland on 12 March 2015 shall have the right to vote.
Weighting of votes
The votes of University teaching and research staff and other staff holding university degrees shall count as 60% of the votes cast. Student votes shall count as 30% of the votes cast and votes by other eligible parties shall count as 10% of the votes cast. Staff at the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies and the Institute for Experimental Pathology at Keldur are considered to be other eligible parties, regardless of whether they hold a university degree.
Electoral roll
The electoral roll shall be available at the information desk in the University of Iceland Main Building from 1 p.m. on 13 March until 1 p.m. on 23 March. The information desk is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays.
Complaints
Complaints regarding the electoral roll must be submitted to the election board before 6 p.m. on Monday 30 March at the latest. They should be submitted by email to kjorstjorn@hi.is, or in writing to the chair of the election board.
Absentee voting
Absentee voting shall be conducted in the traditional manner using paper ballots. This shall begin on 1 April 2015, 1 a.m., in room 224 on the second floor of the University of Iceland Main Building, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. all working days. Absentee voting will no longer be possible after 4 p.m. on 10 April.
Election board
The members of the election board are:
- Björg Thorarensen, Professor, Chair
- Hjálmtýr Hafsteinsson, Senior Lecturer
- Ingibjörg Gunnarsdóttir, Professor
- Trausti Fannar Valsson, Lecturer
- Bergþór Bergsson, student
- Álfrún Perla Baldursdóttir, student
Website for the elections for rector 2015 will be posted shortly.
Regulations on elections for rector and rules on the procedure of online election