STORY: Icelanders voted on Saturday (August 29) on whether to reopen membership talks with the European Union, with voters split on a proposal that could reshape the island nation's future.

Polling stations across the country of roughly 400,000 people opened at 0900 GMT and were due to close at 2200 GMT.

The referendum focused on whether Iceland should negotiate with the EU, with campaigns centred on the cost of living, security, sovereignty and control over fishing waters.

The race is too close to call. A Gallup poll on Friday suggested a narrow majority opposed reopening negotiations, a slight shift from earlier surveys that pointed to a narrow lead for supporters of renewed talks.

Hafdis Arnadottir, an 86-year-old resident of Reykjavik, said she was voting in favour of the government's proposal to negotiate with the EU.

"I'm voting yes, I want to go forward... I hope for the young generation that life will be easier," Arnadottir told Reuters outside a polling station in the capital on Saturday.

Ragnhildur Skarphedinsdottir, 70, said Iceland was managing well on its own and that she was voting against negotiation with the EU.

"By staying independent as we are, we look brightly to the future," she said shortly before casting her ballot.

Should voters say "yes," that would only open the way to discussions with Brussels, with Iceland needing to hold a second referendum likely several years later on whether to actually join the EU.

Iceland first applied to join the EU in 2009 amid a financial crisis but talks ended in 2013 when a Eurosceptic government shelved the process. Renewed geopolitical turmoil has brought fresh urgency to the debate, with supporters arguing EU membership could ease high interest rates and offer more security.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: REYKJAVIK, ICELAND (AUGUST 29, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF REFERENDUM POSTER ON STREET

2. EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION IN TOWN HALL

3. SIGN READING (Icelandic); "POLLING STATION"

4. WOMAN WALKING BY TOWN HALL BUILDING

5. WOMAN ENTERING POLLING STATION

6. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE REGISTERING TO VOTE

7. WOMAN ENTERING VOTING BOOTH

8. PERSON CASTING BALLOT

9. VARIOUS OF POSTER WITH VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

10. VARIOUS OF POLLING STATION WORKER SEALING BALLOT BOX

11. VARIOUS OF MAN REGISTERING TO VOTE

12. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN VOTING BOOTHS

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RESIDENT OF REYKJAVIK, 70, RAGNHILDUR SKARPHEDINSDOTTIR, SAYING:

"It's just my right to vote, and I always use my right since I started voting. And of course, we're here to fight for Iceland and love to join the collaboration of the European so-called family."

14. WOMAN LEAVING VOTING BOOTH, CASTING VOTE

15. PERSON CASTING VOTE

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RESIDENT OF REYKJAVIK, 70, RAGNHILDUR SKARPHEDINSDOTTIR, SAYING:

"Well, we have managed our fare pretty well through everything, whether it's an eruption or the collapse of the economy, and we are, the country is in very good nick. And by staying independent as we are, we look brightly to the future."

17. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE REGISTERING TO VOTE

18. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 19-YEAR-OLD STUDENT, IWO EGILL MACUGA ARNASSON, SAYING:

"Well, I think that it's, I think this will have a big, I think this will influence my life a lot, whether we join the European Union or not. So I just want to have a say in it. And just yes, I wrote yes because I just don't want to throw it out the window just yet without having a contract (referring to the terms for joining the EU)."

19. PEOPLE REGISTERING TO VOTE

20. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 55-YEAR-OLD SET DECORATOR WHO WAS BORN IN POLAND, MARTA LUIZA MACUGA, SAYING:

"I'm actually an immigrant, so I already voted once for joining the European Union, and I also voted yes. And my motherland is in the European Union; it's Poland, and I know it's better now than it was, so I hope it's going to be also good for Iceland."

21. MAN LEAVING VOTING BOOTH, CASTING VOTE

22. POLLING STATION WORKERS REGISTERING VOTERS

23. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 86-YEAR-OLD RESIDENT OF REYKJAVIK, HAFDIS ARNADOTTIR, SAYING:

"I'm coming because I think I am coming because I'm voting yes. I want to go forward. I think yes is forward. No is stop. We have been stopped for many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many years. Nothing happened. Everything goes down in Iceland. But I hope for the young generation that life will be easier."

24. MAN LEAVING VOTING BOOTH AND CASTING VOTE

25. VARIOUS OF REFERENDUM POSTER ON STREET

26. VARIOUS OF STREET WITH STREET SIGNS

27. VARIOUS OF MAN CYCLING

28. VARIOUS OF CITY SKYLINE