2009 EP election
Between June 4 – 7 the citizens of the countries within the European Union will vote in the European Parliament elections. In Sweden the election to the European Parliament will take place on June 7. Elections to the European Parliament are held every five years.
The European Parliament has a total of 736 members. Sweden will elect 18 of them.
Voting cards
Everybody who is entitled to vote should have received a voting card in the post no later than 19 May. This is what it looks like!
On it, there is information about where you can vote. You can either vote at a polling station on election day or in advace.
Voting at a polling station on election day 7 June
You can only vote at the polling station indicated on your voting card. The address of the polling station is on the card including the times when the polling station is open.
You need proof of identity in order to vote. If you are not known by the election officers, you must show some identification, for example your driving licence, passport or official identity card. If you do not have identification, another person can vouch for you – but he/she must have identification.
Ballot papers and ballot envelopes are available in the polling station. Go behind a screen and prepare your vote. You vote for a party and can, if you want to, vote for a particular candidate on the party list.
You vote for a particular candidate on the party list by ticking the box in front of the candidate’s name. You can only tick one candidate. Place the ballot paper without folding it in a ballot envelope and close the envelope.
If you cannot find a ballot paper for the party you want to vote for, write the party’s name on a blank ballot paper. Blank ballot papers are available at all places where you can vote.
Hand over the ballot envelope together with your identification to the election officers. Your identity will be checked. The election officers will make a note in the electoral register that you have voted and will place your vote into the ballot box.
Voting in advance from 20 May
Advance voting at an advance voting location.
The procedure is the same as at a polling station. You must also have your voting card with you in order to vote in advance.
An advance voting location can be for example a municipal office, a school or a library. This symbol shows you where you can vote in advance.
You can vote in advance at any advance voting location you want to throughout the country. Information as to where you can vote in advance can be found at the Election Authority’s website www.val.se or from the municipality.
Advance votes are sent to your home municipality where they are counted together with the other votes.
Voting by messenger
Any person who because of illness, physical disability, or age cannot personally go to a polling station or voting place may vote by messenger. Voting by messenger means that you prepare your vote yourself, but somebody else presents your vote at your polling station or at a voting place. A messenger may be a relative or close friend.
If you receive your post from a rural postman, he/she may be your messenger.
You will need special materials in order to vote by messenger. You can order this from your municipality or from the Election Authority.
Voting abroad
You can submit your vote by posting it from abroad or by going to a Swedish embassy or consulate abroad and voting there. You will need postal voting information in order to vote by post. These can be ordered from the Election Authority.
Read more about how the election works:
Elections in Sweden (6,5 Mb)
Svenska