Nominations have closed in the tiny north Atlantic republic of Iceland for the upcoming Presidential elections in June. According to Angus Reid, the incumbent President, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, is seeking re-election for a fourth term, with other minor candidates also standing. Since independence from Denmark in 1944, Iceland has had a total of five presidents. Not all elections are contested - since 1944, there have only been six ballots.

Generally, Icelandic presidents have the same reserve powers as our Governor-General, but because they are popularily elected, they are actually able to use them. There is one exception where the President of Iceland has more powers - the ability to send Bills of the Icelandic parliament to a referendum. This occured for the first time in 2004, when the current president refused to sign a law regulating the media, thus forcing a referendum on the law. The government, facing defeat at a referendum, withdrew the law rather than face a referendum.