1952 Icelandic presidential election
Early presidential elections were held for the first time in Iceland on 29 June 1952.[ 1] The elections were required following the death of incumbent president Sveinn Björnsson on 25 January. Between his death and the elections, the powers of the presidency were constitutionally vested jointly in Prime Minister Steingrímur Steinþórsson , Speaker of the Althing Jón Pálmason and President of the Supreme Court Jón Ásbjörnsson .
The result was a victory for Ásgeir Ásgeirsson , who received 48% of the vote.[ 2] This was the first contested presidential election in the history of Iceland .
The President of Iceland is elected in one round by plurality via first-past-the-post voting .
Candidate Votes % Ásgeir Ásgeirsson 32,924 48.26 Bjarni Jónsson [is ] 31,045 45.50 Gísli Sveinsson [is ] 4,255 6.24 Total 68,224 100.00 Valid votes 68,224 96.84 Invalid/blank votes 2,223 3.16 Total votes 70,447 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 85,877 82.03 Source: Nohlen & Stöver