Swedish election authority

Here’s how to vote early from abroad

Published: 17 June 2026

If you’re outside Sweden, you can vote early at a Swedish embassy or consulate. For the 2026 elections, early voting abroad is possible for a limited period, from 20 August at the earliest. You can’t vote abroad on election day.

Dates and opening times: early voting abroad

For the 2026 elections, early voting abroad is conducted for a limited period, from 20 August at the earliest. Each Swedish embassy or consulate has its own opening times for voting.

You can’t vote abroad on election day.

Here’s where you can vote abroad

You can vote early at many Swedish embassies and consulates.

Early voting locations abroad (in Swedish)

Here’s what you need to bring with you

Valid ID such as your Swedish passport, or your Swedish or local ID card.

Here’s how to vote early from abroad: a step-by-step guide

When you’re at the voting location, follow these steps in order.

Choose your ballot papers alone

Ballot papers are displayed on a rack in a screened-off area at the voting location. You must be alone when you select your ballot papers.

  • As a Swedish citizen living abroad, you are only eligible to vote in the elections to the Riksdag, the Swedish parliament (yellow ballot paper). If you are still registered as living in Sweden, you are also eligible to vote in the elections to your regional council (blue ballot paper) and municipal council (white ballot paper).
  • If you can’t find any ballot papers for your preferred party, you can select blank ballot papers. Write the name of the party on the blank ballot paper. If you want to vote for a specific candidate, you can write their name too.

How ballot papers work

Candidates you can vote for (in Swedish)

Take some ballot envelopes

When you have selected your ballot papers, a member of the polling staff will give you some ballot envelopes. There might also be envelopes on display. If so, you can take some yourself.

Go to an empty voting booth alone

You must be alone when you prepare your votes so that nobody can see or influence how you vote.

If you need assistance, a member of the polling staff can go to the voting booth with you. Polling staff have a duty of secrecy and are not allowed to tell anyone how you have voted. This is to maintain your voter secrecy.

You can bring someone else with you to the voting booth if you need assistance, but a polling staff member must also be present.

Prepare your vote

You prepare your vote at the voting booth. If you vote in the elections to the regional and municipal councils as well as the Riksdag, you prepare three votes.

Voting for a specific candidate as well as a party

If you want to vote for a specific candidate, you can choose one of the following options:

  • Put an “x” in the box by the name of that candidate on the ballot paper.
  • Write that candidate’s name on a ballot paper on which only the name of a party is printed.
  • Write the names of a party and a candidate on a blank ballot paper.

You can only vote for one specific candidate in each election, using one ballot paper.

How ballot papers work

Candidates you can vote for (in Swedish)

If you only want to vote for a party, choose one of the following options:

  • Don’t put an “x” in a box by the name of a candidate on the ballot paper.
  • Use a ballot paper on which only the name of a party is printed.
  • Only write the name of a party on a blank ballot paper.

Put your ballot papers in ballot envelopes

Put your ballot papers in ballot envelopes. Separate envelopes are required for the different elections you vote in. Do this carefully, ensuring that there is only one ballot paper in each envelope.

Close each envelope by tucking the flap down or sealing it.

Bring your ballot envelopes and ID to a polling staff member

Give your closed ballot envelopes to a member of the polling staff and show them your ID.

If you have a voting card, you can give it to the polling staff member. If you don't have a voting card, the polling staff member can help you print one.

There are various ways to prove your identity:

  • You can show your ID (Swedish passport, or your Swedish or local ID card).
  • A polling staff member who knows you can confirm your identity.
  • Another person who is at least 18 years old can confirm your identity (they must show their ID).

The polling staff member prepares to send the vote to Sweden

The polling staff member notes that you have voted and places your ballot envelopes in a window envelope. They seal the window envelope and place it into a preliminary ballot box.

Your vote is sent by the Swedish Election Authority to the municipality in which you are – or were most recently – registered.

During the vote count, the ballot envelopes in each window envelope are separated from the voting card (if this has been included) to maintain voter secrecy.

Film: Here’s how to vote early abroad

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Voting early from abroad

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The right to vote: Swedish citizens living abroad

If you’ve emigrated from Sweden, you remain on the electoral roll for elections to the Riksdag for 10 years after you’ve moved abroad. If more than 10 years have passed, and you still wish to remain on the electoral roll, you need to register again.

You need to be on the electoral roll in order to receive a voting card and postal voting materials, and in order for your vote to be counted in elections to the Riksdag.

Your right to vote if you live abroad

Frequently asked questions

Here you can find answers to frequently asked questions about early voting from abroad at Swedish embassies and consulates.

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