Debate Format:
Multicandidate, four candidates in 2018.
Campaign Length Minimum:
Not Legally Determined
Electoral System & Organisation
Elect System Main Election:
Proportional with threshold
Main Election Type:
Riksdag
Main Election Cycle:
4
Numb Round Main Election:
One
Referenda_Law:
The following two conditions must be met for a referendum to be binding. The number of those voting against the proposal must be greater than those in favour. In addition to this, those who have voted against must constitute more than half of those who have cast valid votes in the parliamentary election. If this majority is obtained, the newly elected Riksdag may not make any change to the Constitution. Source: The Instrument of the Government Ch. 8, Section 16
Referenda_Binding:
Sometimes Binding
Rules Non Fixed Term:
Extra elections are possible but cannot be called by the Prime Minister or any other individual. Instead they happen automatically when and if the Speaker fails four times to present a candidate for Prime Minister that Parliament can accept. Extra elections do not replace regular ones - they do not move the four-year schedule.
Voting Machine:
None
Vote IDRequired:
ID check compulsory
Polling Card:
Polling card sent but not compulsory
National Holiday Elect Day:
Never
Dayof Election:
Sunday
Districting Source:
Parliament
Districting Flexibility:
For Riksdag elections, Sweden is divided into 29 constituencies. As a rule, each county corresponds to one constituency, with the exceptions of Stockholm, Skåne and Västra Götaland, where Stockholm has two, Skåne four and Västra Götaland five constituencies. For country council assembly elections, a constituency is generally made up,of one or several muncipalities. For muncipal assembly elections, large muncipalities should be divided into constituencies.
Polling Station
Normal Opening Time Poll Station:
08:00
Normal Closing Time Poll Station:
2000
Listof Polling Station Buildings:
municipal buildings or a local library
Accessibility Requirement:
Party to UNCRPD
Vote Receipt:
No receipt
Count Locallyor Centrally:
locally
Manualor Automatic Count:
manual
Ballot Paper
Ballot Type:
Paper
Singleor Multi Paper Ballot:
Multiple
Max Numberof Votesper Ballot:
3
Ballot Paper Type Description:
Every party has its own ballot paper. Every voter has one party vote. Additionally a voter may give one preferential vote. In case the word anmälda is printed on the ballot paper the voter may not vote for a candidate that is not listed.
Ballot Paper Type Photo Upload:
YES
Orderof Candidatesor Parties:
Non Applicable
Remote Voting
Temporal Remote Voting:
Automatic right
Geographical Remote Voting:
Automatic right
Personal Remote Voting:
No
Time Temporal Remote:
2
Remote Voting List:
Voters may cast their votes in advance before election day at any Swedish post office, and at care facilities (hospitals, elderly homes), prisons etc. Disabled people who cannot go to the polling station or to any other vote reception place may vote by “messenger”, where the voter prepares their vote in secrecy in presence of a witness and a messenger (see Swedish Elections Act). Swedish citizens abroad may vote in advance at Swedish foreign missions or by mail. Mail voting from abroad is regulated by a special legal act and requires special material (Mail Voting in Certain Cases Act). Proxy Vote. Advance Voting.
Mobile Polling Stations:
Yes
Special Needs
Provision First Time Voters:
Educating the Voter about the Electoral Process: The Swedish Election Authority
Provision Illiterate Voters:
training for polling station officials on how to assist people with intellectual disabilities
Provision Linguistic Ethnic Minorites:
information about elections in 21 different languages.
Provision Blind Voters:
information about elections in Braille or large text for people with visual impairment, audio options providing information about elections were available for people with visual impairments, and sign language information
Provision Deaf Voters:
Elections Act (2005) provides for voting assistance by clerks (but does not specify that a person can vote with the assistance of a person of their choosing). The same act provides that persons who cannot enter an inaccessible polling station may deliver their votes to polling personnel outside. Persons can vote via a chosen assistant or proxy (for example if they are blind, deafblind, have mobility impairments, have an intellectual disability, or are an older person) or can ask for support at the voting place.
Provision Motor Handicap Voters:
Elections Act (2005) provides for voting assistance by clerks (but does not specify that a person can vote with the assistance of a person of their choosing). The same act provides that persons who cannot enter an inaccessible polling station may deliver their votes to polling personnel outside. Persons can vote via a chosen assistant or proxy (for example if they are blind, deafblind, have mobility impairments, have an intellectual disability, or are an older person) or can ask for support at the voting place.
Targeted Initiatives
History Major Changes:
Adoption of a unicameral structure.