Since the 2018 elections, the Swedish Security Service and the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency have identified a growing risk of threats, sabotage and disinformation aimed at undermining the election process. The Swedish Election Authority is therefore working to strengthen election protection and confidence in the election process.

A robust electoral system

The Swedish electoral system is decentralised and transparent, which makes it robust. All vote reception and vote counting is open to the public. This means that anyone can come and watch.

Election observation

The Swedish Election Authority works closely with Sweden’s municipalities, county administrative boards and missions abroad to ensure a dependable election process. Important measures include:

• providing training for polling staff and other election staff
• developing clear instructions and routines
• counting votes several times
• protecting IT systems, vote consignments and premises from intrusion
• providing the public with clear information in order to counter disinformation

Threats to the election process

Foreign influence and attempts at voter suppression are examples of threats to the election process. Other examples include threats to election staff, disruption of IT systems and dissemination of false information about when, how and where to vote.

The purpose of such threats is often to reduce voter turnout, disrupt or sabotage the election process, or undermine confidence in the election process or the election results.

An election can also be affected by other events, such as procedural flaws, shortcomings in election staff training, and unexpected events such as natural disasters and accidents.

A new approach for the 2026 elections

New legislation that came into force on 1 December 2025 introduced measures to increase the protection of general elections.

The amended legislation means that the Swedish Election Authority is required to:

• support and coordinate election agencies’ efforts to safeguard elections
• analyse and assess risks that threaten the election process
• Sweden’s country administrative boards, municipalities and missions abroad that provide voting locations are required to report any incidents that may affect the election process to the Swedish Election Authority as soon as possible.

Collaboration for secure elections

The Swedish Election Authority works closely with Sweden’s municipalities, county administrative boards and other government agencies. Contacts take place both directly between the government agencies and within various networks.

The Swedish Election Authority leads Sweden’s national elections network. The county administrative boards, the Swedish Psychological Defence Agency, the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency, the Swedish Police Authority, the Swedish Security Service, the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre Sweden, the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority and the Swedish Tax Agency are part of this network.

National elections network