Municipal elections make their way to the Danish National Archives

On Tuesday, November 18, 2025, we will decide who will lead our municipal and regional councils for the next four years. The election results will be archived in the Danish National Archives, ensuring documentation of the history of local democracy.

In 1841, the absolute King Christian VIII introduced local self-government in rural areas, following a political wish for local autonomy similar to the system established in market towns in 1837. As a result, local citizens in Denmark’s 1,021 parish municipalities were now responsible for local welfare, education, and road maintenance.

The parish municipalities were headed by a parish council, consisting of both “born” and elected members. The born members were the parish priest and the local landowners—those believed to possess the administrative skills needed to run local government, unlike many local farmers. They also had the power to overrule the elected members if necessary.

Elected members were chosen by a small group of voters: Only men over 25 who owned or leased land or owned buildings worth more than 1,000 rigsdaler were eligible. Furthermore, they had to reside in the municipality and have a clean criminal record.

This excluded women, smallholders, and the poor from the new local democracy, while farmers and officials gained influence. Farmers made up only 8% of the population but controlled 95% of the land. Power rested with the landowning class, avoiding potentially revolutionary ideas, such as significant tax increases for landowners.

The first municipal elections took place in October 1841 so the new municipalities could be established on January 1, 1842.

The election procedures were public until 1908: There were no postal votes, and each voter declared their choice out loud to the election committee, which recorded it in the electoral register. This ensured proper documentation of the election process. Public voting also meant that there was the risk of external influence, where a voter might be pressured to change their vote. If the local landowner both participated in the election committee and ran as a candidate, it could be difficult for his tenants to vote for his opponent.

In 1908, politicians decided to democratize municipal election law after years of debate, broadening both suffrage and eligibility. Universal and equal suffrage was introduced, reducing the dominance of landowners and farmers within the councils, and opening the door to more smallholders, craftsmen, and workers.

Women gained voting rights for municipal elections in 1908, having already gained eligibility for church councils (1903), child welfare boards (1905), and municipal relief committees (1907). At the time, it was believed that care for church, children, and welfare aligned naturally with women’s “care instinct.” It was thus considered natural for women to participate in municipal councils, paving the way for full political suffrage in the 1915 Constitution.

Another key aspect of the 1908 reforms was the introduction of the secret ballot. From then on, votes were cast on a ballot paper placed in a ballot box, so no one could see the voter’s choice.

In the 1909 municipal election, not only the well-known parties participated—there was also a flood of local lists. In Nordfalster, politicians in Nørre Alslev ran according to residence, rather than party, with local lists for Nørre Alslev Village, Nørre Alslev Station Town, and the Women’s List for the Station Town.

In Gjellerup Municipality near Herning, three local lists stood for election: Inner Mission, the Grundtvigians, and “The Dissatisfied.” The Inner Mission won with five of eight council seats, but The Dissatisfied also secured one candidate.

Danish parties have had fixed party letters since 1943, making calculations and tabulations easier. Some letters have shifted between parties: D was originally the Liberal Party’s letter until 1971, then used by the Centre Democrats (1989–2005), and now by the New Right since 2016. Liberal Alliance’s ‘I’ was used by the Socialist Workers Party in the 1980s. K belonged to the Communist Party but later went to the Christian Democrats.

Election researchers deposit their studies with the National Archives, surveying a sample of voters about why we vote as we do—whether due to local service issues, changing party allegiance, or a mayor’s lack of climate focus. By preserving various election data, we ensure democratic insight and transparency, ensuring the credibility of the election results.