Published at 06.30
The election is approaching and today voting cards are being sent out to roughly 210,000 Swedes who are entitled to vote abroad.
The Swedes abroad may be decisive in the election this autumn because Swedish elections tend to be even.
Today send The electoral authority issued voting cards to roughly 210,000 eligible voters abroad.
Earlier this year, the government tasked the authority with expanding the information to Swedes abroad in order to increase voting abroad.
– Last spring, we sent out letters to approximately 82,000 Swedes living abroad who had fallen off the voter’s register to urge them to add themselves again. We have also produced a guide on val.se for Swedes abroad and an information campaign aimed at Swedes abroad which will start at the end of July, says Annica Sundel, head of unit at the Swedish Electoral Authority.
On average, roughly 30 percent of the more than 210,000 Swedes abroad usually vote.
More voice reception locations
Digital voting cards have also been introduced and the number of vote reception locations abroad has been increased to nearly 300, with extended opening hours.
Swedes living abroad can either vote early at embassies and consulates around the world or vote by mail. The most common mistake many people make is not following the instructions carefully enough when filling in their voting cards abroad, according to the Swedish Electoral Authority.
Votes were discarded
Last election year 2022, 13 percent of postal votes were disqualified due to formal errors such as missing voter signatures or witnesses.
– We also see that votes can come in too early but also too late so that they don’t make it to the vote count. But it also happens that not all information is filled in, says Annica Sundel.
The voting card with ballot paper must be mailed no earlier than July 30.
Vote abroad – important dates
The foreign voting cards with materials for voting will start to be sent out on Tuesday, July 7.
Early voting abroad in this year’s election will start on July 30 at the earliest for a limited period ahead. It is important to ensure that the vote is received before the vote is counted.
Early voting at consulates and Swedish embassies opens on August 20.
Anyone who lives abroad is included in the voter’s list for the parliamentary election ten years after moving abroad. After ten years, you must register yourself for a new ten-year period.
Source: The Electoral Authority.
