How to vote

Elections to the European Parliament on Sunday 9 June 2024.

Who can vote?

You are eligible to vote if:

• you are a Swedish citizen, at least 18 years old on election day, and are or have been listed in the Swedish Population Register.

Swedish citizens who are listed in the Swedish Population Register are automatically listed on the electoral roll. If you are registered in a country other than Sweden, you need to register to the electoral roll every 10 years. A person who has never been listed in the Swedish Population Register is not eligible to vote.

You are also eligible to vote if:

• you are a citizen of an EU country, are listed in the Swedish Population Register, and have registered to vote. You must register to vote with the County Administrative Board no later than 30 days before election day.

If you are eligible to vote, you will be sent a voting card by post. Your eligibility to vote is stated on your voting card, which also says where you can vote. If your voting card is missing, you can order a new one.

How to vote

Ballots are secret and you do not need to tell anyone how you intend to vote.

There are ballot papers at every voting location. Ballot papers are white for elections to the European Parliament. When you vote, you place a ballot paper in a ballot envelope.
In order to vote, you must show a proof of identity document. If you do not have a proof of identity document, someone else can certify your identity, but then they must show a proof of identity document.

Voting for a party

You vote for one party. The name of the party is on the ballot paper. If you cannot find a ballot paper for your party of choice, you can write the name of the party on a blank ballot paper.

Voting for a party and specifying a candidate

If you want a particular candidate to be elected, you can put a cross in the box before that candidate’s name on your ballot paper. You can only put a cross for one candidate. You can also specify a candidate by writing both the name of a party and your preferred candidate on a blank ballot paper.

Vote at your local polling station on election day: 9 June 2024

Every voter is registered to vote at a specific polling station. This polling station is only open on election day. You can only vote at the polling station marked on your voting card.

Vote in advance in either your own or another municipality

There are also advance voting locations in Sweden. You can vote in advance at any advance voting location in the country. Advance voting in Sweden will take place between 22 May and 9 June. You must bring your voting card with you when voting in advance.

Voting from abroad

If you are outside Sweden, you can vote by post or in advance at many Swedish embassies and consulates. To vote by post, you must order special materials. You also need two witnesses who are at least 18 years old. You can send a postal ballot from abroad from 25 April. You can vote in advance at a Swedish embassy or consulate from 16 May.

Voting by proxy

You can vote by proxy if you are unable to come to your polling station or an advance voting location in person – for example, due to disability, illness or old age. In order to vote by proxy, you must order special materials. Ballots for proxy voting can be prepared from 16 August up to and including election day, 9 June.

You need a proxy and a witness. They must both be at least 18 years old. The same person cannot be both your proxy and your witness. If your proxy is going to cast your vote at an advance voting location, they must bring your voting card with them.

You can also vote by proxy if you are being held in a detention centre or prison. In addition, a postal worker can be your proxy if you are served by a rural mail carrier.
Who can vote on your behalf?

A proxy must be at least 18 years old. Your proxy can be any of the following:

• a relative
• your carer or someone who normally helps you with personal matters
• a member of staff at a detention centre or prison
• a postal worker (if you are served by a rural mail carrier)
  

Ambulant vote collection

Ambulant vote collection is an option available to voters who are unable to vote in advance or to come to a polling station in person – for example, due to disability, illness or old age. Your municipality will arrange for two vote collectors to come to your home to pick up your vote. For further information, please contact your municipality.

Questions

If you wish to order special voting materials or a new voting card, or need to find out where and how you can vote, please contact your municipal election committee or visit val.se.

Alternatively, you are welcome to call the Swedish election information service (“Valupplysningen”) on 020 825 825 (if you are in Sweden), or +46 (0)8 758 15 50 (from outside Sweden).