The right to vote in Sweden

There are different elections and referendums in Sweden, and different regulations about who can vote in individual elections and referendums in Sweden.

Who can vote in elections and stand as a candidate for election in Sweden?

If you want to stand as a candidate in an election, you must be a candidate for a party and have the right to vote in the election in question, and you must accept your candidacy before the election.

On the second Sunday in September, every fourth year, three elections elections are held simultaneously in Sweden: elections to the Swedish Riksdag (Parliament), and municipal and county councils.

On the third Sunday in May, every fourth year, an election to the Sami Parliament (Sametinget) is held.

Every fifth year, elections are held in EU Member States to elect members of the European Parliament.

There are different regulations concerning whether you can vote in the respective elections.

Referendums may also be held in Sweden. A referendum is a vote in which voters take a direct position on a political issue. It is the Swedish Parliament (Riksdagen) that decides whether a referendum will be held in the entire country. Referendums may also be held municipalities and country councils.

Municipal and county council elections

You are entitled to vote in municipal and county council elections if you were registered in the Population Register in Sweden 30 days before the election day and you are

• a Swedish citizen
• an EU citizen
• a citizen of Norway or Iceland
• a citizen of another country and have been registered in the Population Register in Sweden for three consecutive years before the election day.

Your 18th birthday must be no later than the election day. You are entitled to vote in the municipality and in the county council in which you were registered in the Population Register 30 days before the election day.

Elections to the Swedish Riksdag

You are entitled to vote in the election to the Swedish Riksdag if you are a Swedish citizen and are, or were once, registered in the Population Register in Sweden. In addition, your 18th birthday must be no later than the election day.

Elections to the European Parliament

You are entitled to vote in the European Parliament elections if your 18th birthday is no later than the election day and you are

• a Swedish citizen and are, or were once, registered in the Population Register in Sweden.
• a citizen of one of the European Union Member States and are registered in the Population Register in Sweden.

If you are a citizen of another EU country and you wish to vote in a European Parliament election in Sweden, you must have notified the electoral roll (röstlängden) in Sweden. You cannot vote in two EU countries in the same election.

If you are a Swedish citizen and live in another EU country, you can submit a notification to the electoral roll for the European Parliament election in the country in question. If you are on the electoral roll in another EU country, you are removed from the Swedish electoral roll.

If you are a citizen of an EU country and registered in the Population Register in Sweden, you will receive a form for the European Parliament election from the Swedish Election Authority on which you register or deregister on the Swedish electoral roll.

Election to the Sami Parliament

In order to vote in the election to the Sami Parliament (Sametinget), you must register for inclusion on the electoral roll. You apply to the Sami Parliament for this. You are entitled to vote if you are Sami, your 18th birthday is no later than the election day, and you are either a Swedish citizen or a foreign citizen who has lived in Sweden for three consecutive years before the election day.

Referendums

In a referendum, the people vote on a specific issue. There are two types of referendum in Sweden - national and municipal referendums.

You must make sure you have the right to vote in Sweden and that you are on the electoral roll before the election.

How do you know if you have the right to vote in Sweden?

The information in the Swedish Tax Agency’s Population Register 30 days before the election day determines whether and where you have the right to vote.

Everyone who is entitled to vote and who is registered in the Population Register in Sweden is automatically included on the electoral roll (röstlängden) and receives a voting card by post.

Swedes who are registered abroad must submit a notification every tenth year for inclusion in the electoral roll.

How do you get a voting card in Sweden?

Voting cards are sent by post approximately three weeks before the election day. The voting card contains information about how to vote and which elections you are entitled to vote in.

You must take your voting card with you when you are voting in advance at an embassy, consulate, or at a polling station (vallokal) for the election. If you are voting at the polling station on the election day, you do not need to bring your voting card.

If you have lost your voting card, you can order a new one by contacting the Swedish Election Authority. You can sometimes get a new voting card in the polling station.

You must be able to confirm your identity before you can vote. You do this by showing a valid ID, or another person may confirm your identity. The person confirming your identity must show a valid ID and give their personal identity number.

How can you vote in elections in Sweden?

In Sweden you can vote in several different ways. You can

How can you vote if you are an expatriate Swede?

An expatriate Swede is a Swedish citizen who has emigrated from Sweden. If you are to be regarded as an expatriate Swede, you must have been registered in the Population Register at some time.

As an expatriate Swede, you are entitled to vote in the election to the Swedish Riksdag and the European Parliament election, but you must submit a notification to the electoral roll every tenth year for inclusion on the electoral roll. You can do this by completing a special form and sending it to the Swedish Tax Agency. Even a submitted vote from abroad in an election is counted as a notification to the electoral roll. The vote is counted in the election in question if it is received no later than the day before the election day.

For every election, expatriate Swedes who have notified the Swedish Tax Agency of their address in their country receive from the Swedish Election Authority a special voting card and materials for sending their vote by post. Read more about expatriate Swedes on the Swedish Election Authority website.

Contact the Swedish Election Authority for information about voting in an election or a referendum or if you want to know more about running for election in Sweden.