The referendum period runs from April 22 to April 29, according to multiple reports. The digital voting system collapsed shortly after opening on April 22, from around 10:10 to 10:40, due to high traffic, major media reported. Around 3,000 people had voted digitally by just before 11:00 on the first day. 16-year-olds who turn 16 by the end of 2026 are allowed to vote in this referendum.
The initiative for the merger came from Senterpartiet mayor Bror Helgestad of Østre Toten, according to major media. Representatives of Vestre Toten Arbeiderparti demanded a legality check of two decisions related to the merger process. The Statsforvalteren (County Governor) in Innlandet found the decisions mostly legal, but noted one issue regarding delegation of authority in organizing the referendum.
If you come from Toten to a party in Gjøvik, you might get beaten up.
The referendum is advisory; final decisions will be made by the municipal councils in May, according to multiple reports. If the merger proceeds, the final approval will be made by the Storting (Norwegian parliament) in spring. If approved, the new Toten municipality could become a reality on January 1, 2028. All previous attempts at municipal mergers in Innlandet have failed, major media reported. The proposed name for the merged municipality is 'Toten', and Gjøvik city would become the center of the new municipality.
Local tensions and social dynamics are also at play. According to NRK, an anonymous student at Østre Toten high school described that if you come from Toten to a party in Gjøvik, you might get beaten up. According to NRK, Emma Katrine Dybdal, a 19-year-old student, described that if everything becomes one municipality, she thinks it will become very dead far out in the countryside. She also described that in middle school she was not super popular because she was seen as a bit of a country bumpkin. According to NRK, Håvard Moe, an expert on municipal economics and managing director of Nivi Analyse, described that all three municipalities are going to struggle big time on their own. According to NRK, Hans Olav Lahlum, an SV politician and proud resident of Gjøvik, described that one should not underestimate the role identity plays, and that Gjøvik has a mixed identity that he is very proud of. According to NRK, Bror Helgestad described that he is in favor of municipal merger, which is probably surprising to many, but these are challenging times for Municipal Norway with a shortage of workers and a lot to do. He also described that Skreia and Eina will be in exactly the same place, and that it is not the size of the municipality that centralizes, but the fact that the municipality becomes broke at some point. According to NRK, Anne Røyse, a farmer and horse caretaker, described that the heart always belongs to the countryside, but if reason is to prevail, then it must be 'yes', and even though many see it as centralization, she sees it as good cooperation. According to NRK Norge, Markus Lunden, a voter from Østre Toten, described that he lives at the edge of Østre Toten and has tried to weigh the positive against the negative, and landed on no because he sees that the outer reaches can be forgotten and deprioritized. He also described that there is a lot against it in his circle of acquaintances, while others he knows are for it, and there are individual perceptions of the consequences of the merger. According to NRK Innlandet, Knut Storberget, County Governor of Innlandet, described that it is no secret what he thinks about municipal mergers, he is in favor of them, but now it is up to the people to decide. He also described that if they succeed with this in Innlandet, it will mean more than just for Toten – it will have ripple effects for all of Innlandet and all of Norway. He further described that it is very important that people go and vote when the opportunity arises, to give the referendum the weight it should have. According to NRK Innlandet, Bror Helgestad described that with more and more care tasks and fewer and fewer people, the municipalities face challenges.
All three of these municipalities are going to struggle big time on their own.
One should not underestimate the role identity plays.
Gjøvik has a mixed identity that I am very proud of.
If everything becomes one municipality, I think it will become very dead here far out in the countryside.
In middle school I wasn't super popular because they saw me as a bit of a country bumpkin.
The popular girls came in brand-name clothes, while I came in completely ordinary clothes and thought tractors were cool. Then I fell outside. I fit in better here.
That I am in favor of municipal merger is probably surprising to many, but these are challenging times for Municipal Norway. We have a shortage of workers and a lot to do.
Skreia and Eina will be in exactly the same place. It's not the size of the municipality that centralizes, but the fact that the municipality becomes broke at some point.
The heart always belongs to the countryside, but if reason is to prevail, then it must be 'yes'. Even though many see it as centralization, I see it as good cooperation.
I live at the edge of Østre Toten. I have tried to weigh the positive against the negative, and I landed on no because I see that the outer reaches can be forgotten and deprioritized.
There is a lot against it in my circle of acquaintances, while others I know are for it. There are individual perceptions of the consequences of the merger.
It's no secret what I think about municipal mergers, I am in favor of them, but now it's up to the people to decide.
If we succeed with this in Innlandet, it will mean more than just for Toten – it will have ripple effects for all of Innlandet and all of Norway.
It is very important that people go and vote when the opportunity arises, to give the referendum the weight it should have.
With more and more care tasks and fewer and fewer people...