Sweden election 2018: When is the Swedish election? Can expats vote in the election?
THE 2018 Swedish general election is creeping closer as Swedes get ready to cast their votes and elect their new prime minister. When is the Swedish election? Can expats vote in the Swedish election?
Sweden Democrats leader confident of winning general election
In less than two weeks Swedes take to the polls in the 2018 Swedish general election.
The election is said to be one of the most complicated the Scandinavian country has seen for decades as recent polls have shown three parties obtaining about 20 percent of the votes each.
The Social democrats party, led by current prime minister Stefan Löfven might head for the worst election in almost a century after recent surveys have seen far-right party Sweden Democrats gaining support for their anti-immigration policies.
The Social democrats, a labour party at its core, has been stronger in Sweden than in almost any other countries since Sweden’s parliamentary-democratic breakthrough in 1917.
When is the Swedish election?
The Swedish election - also known as ‘Riksdagen’ - always falls on the second Sunday of September.
This year’s election is scheduled for Sunday, September 9, 2018.
Since 1994, Swedes go to the polls every four years (before it was every three years) and in the 2014 general election almost 86 percent of the Swedish population voted.
Can expats vote in the Swedish election?
Swedes living abroad are automatically entitled to vote in the general election up to 10 years after leaving Sweden.
To be able to vote you need to be a Swedish citizen, at least 18-years-old before the election date and once have had a registered residence in Sweden.
After living as an expat for 10 years, Swedes must renew their electoral roll registration by filling out a form.
The voting takes place either by post or at a Swedish embassy.
In this year’s election Swedes abroad could start casting their votes at embassies from August 16, but it is important to note that the voting ends at different times depending on what country you’re in.
This is because the votes must be transported to Sweden before the election day.
In London the last day you’ll be able to vote is September 5.
To vote at a Swedish embassy you need to bring a valid form of ID.
Dies beinhaltet:
Swedish passport
Swedish ID-card
A local official ID
If you do not bring any form of identification, someone in the venue can vouch for you as long as they have a valid form of identification.
Anyone who wants to vote by post could do so from July 26, 2018, but the letter needs to arrive the day before the election to count.