Here’s how to vote on election day

Published: 10 June 2026

This is what to do when you vote at your local voting location on election day, 13 September. Follow our step-by-step guide.

Dates and opening times: when you vote on election day

Sunday 13 September 2026 is election day for elections to the Riksdag (Swedish parliament) and regional and municipal councils. Your local voting location is open between 08.00 and 20.00.

This is where you can vote on election day

The address of your local voting location and other details are stated on your voting card. If you have a digital mailbox, we will send your voting card to you digitally by 26 August 2026 at the latest. If not, we will send it to you by post.

Here’s what you need to bring with you

You need to bring ID such as your ID card, driving licence or passport. If you do not have any ID, another person who has ID can confirm your identity.

Here’s how to vote at your local voting location on election day: a step-by-step guide

The address details of your local voting location are stated on your voting card, which we will send to you before the elections. 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.

Take one of the following ballot papers for each election in which you intend to vote:

  • a yellow ballot paper for the elections to the Riksdag
  • a blue ballot paper for the elections to the regional councils
  • a white ballot paper for the elections to the municipal councils.

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 each blank ballot paper. If you want to vote for a specific candidate, you can write their name too.

Take three ballot envelopes

When you have selected your ballot papers, a member of the polling staff will give you some ballot envelopes. Alternatively, there might also be envelopes on display, 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 votes

You prepare your votes at a voting booth.

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.

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 one ballot paper in each envelope

Put your ballot papers in ballot envelopes. Do this carefully, ensuring that there is only one ballot paper in each envelope.

Close the envelopes by tucking the flaps down or sealing them.

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.

There are various ways to prove your identity:

  • you can show your ID (ID card, driving licence, passport)
  • 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)

A member of the polling staff takes your ballot envelopes, checks them, and verifies your identity.

The polling staff member places your votes in the ballot box

The polling staff member verifies your identity, checks your ballot envelopes and makes a note of the elections in which you have voted, on the electoral roll. They then place each envelope in the correct ballot box for the relevant elections.

Now you have voted!

Film: Here’s how to vote at your local voting location

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Vote on election day

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Assistance with voting

You can be assisted in various ways when voting:

  • Assistance will be available to you if you need it, both outside and inside the voting location.
  • If it’s difficult for you to get to a voting location – for example, due to disability, illness or old age – you can get help with voting where you’re situated. The same applies if you’ve been admitted to hospital, a pretrial detention centre or a correctional institution.

Find out more about the various options available under “Assistance with voting” on this website.

Assistance with voting

Frequently asked questions

Here you can find answers to frequently asked questions about voting at your local voting location on election day.

  • How do I find out where my local voting location is?

    Details of your local voting location are shown on your voting card. The name and address of the voting location are stated here.

    Your local voting location is determined according to which electoral district you belong to. It is determined geographically, based on your home address and the way in which your municipality has chosen to divide up the electoral districts.

    Alternatively, you can search for voting location details on val.se closer to the elections.

    Voting cards

  • Can I vote if I’m away from home on election day?

    Yes, you can vote even if you’re away from home on election day. You can go to any early voting location in Sweden. On election day, at least one early voting location is open in each municipality.

    Please keep in mind that significantly fewer early voting locations are open on election day than before that date. You might therefore need to travel further if you wish to vote on election day, depending on where you’re situated.

    If you know that you’ll be away from home, it’s best to vote early.

    Early voting

  • Can I vote at another voting location on election day?

    No. You can only vote at the voting location that’s shown on your voting card.

    However, you can vote at an early voting location if you’re away from home – even on election day. At least one early voting location is open in each municipality on election day.

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