Voting

Identity checks

For all voting a voter who is not known to the election officers must show identification or otherwise confirm her/his identity. The election officers must also make a note of how they have checked the voters’ identities.

Voting screens

All premises where voting is possible must have screens behind which the voters can put a ballot paper for each election in a voting envelope in privacy. This is to ensure that nobody sees the vote cast by the individual person. The voter then gives her/his voting envelopes to the election officers.

How to vote?

The voter can choose between 1. vote at the polling station at election day, 2. vote in advance, 3. vote by messenger, 4. vote at diplomatic mission abroad or 5. vote by post from abroad.

1. Voting at polling stations

On election day, the voter votes at the polling station in the district where he/she is included in the electoral roll. Polling stations must normally also be accessible to persons with physical disabilities. If due to physical disability the voter still cannot enter the polling station the election officers may collect the vote outside the polling station.

After the chair of the electoral district has checked that the voter is included in the electoral roll for that district and that one ballot paper has been placed in each voting envelope the chair places the voting envelopes in the respective ballot boxes. At that time it is marked on the electoral roll that the voter has voted.

Polling stations are normally open between 8 am and 8 pm (9 pm for elections to the European Parliament). The Election Committee may decide on shorter hours of opening after consultation with the county administrative board.

2. Advance voting in Sweden

A voter who for any reason cannot vote at her/his polling station on election day may vote in advance at a voting place anywhere in Sweden. A voting place may be, for example, the municipal office, a library, a school or a post office. Advance voting begins 18 days before election day. As an additional service to the voters each municipality also has at least one voting place which is also open on election day.

At some hospitals and other nursing institutions the election committee arranges the receiving of votes for those voters wishing to vote there, e.g. patients, staff and visitors.

3. 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. Relatives or carers may act as messenger, as may rural postmen. In addition the Election Committee may appoint special persons to act as messenger. Persons detained on remand or in correctional institutions may also vote by messenger.

4. Voting at diplomatic missions abroad

All persons who are abroad at the time of voting may vote at a Swedish mission abroad.

The Election Authority decides, after receiving proposals from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, at which Swedish diplomatic missions abroad votes may be received. Voting begins 24 days before election day, and in some places may take place only for a short period of time.

5. Postal voting from abroad

Persons entitled to vote who are abroad may vote by post from all countries in the world. Seafarers on ships in international traffic may also vote by post. Postal votes may not be sent earlier than 45 days before election day nor later than election day.

Special material is required for postal voting. The material may be ordered from the Election Authority or from a Swedish mission abroad.

Change of vote

A person who has voted in advance (in Sweden or from abroad) may change her/his vote. In that case he/she must vote in the polling station on election day. The vote in the polling station will then be accepted and the advance vote declared invalid.