Early voting has officially commenced in Sweden, with polling stations opening their doors to the public across the country on Wednesday morning. Residents participating in the process should have already received, or will soon receive, their voting card, known as a röstkort, either by post or through digital channels. This documentation provides essential details regarding the location and operating hours of polling stations for the upcoming election, which is scheduled for September 13th.
The option to cast a ballot in advance, referred to as förtidsröstning, has become increasingly popular among the Swedish electorate. Data from previous cycles highlights this upward trend: in the 2022 election, 48.16 percent of voters chose to cast their ballots early, compared to 47 percent in 2018 and 39 percent in 2010.
Eligibility for early voting extends to anyone qualified to participate in national, regional, or municipal elections. Residents can verify which specific elections they are permitted to participate in by reviewing the information printed on their voting card. While only Swedish citizens are eligible to vote in the national election, the requirements for regional and local contests are broader. Citizens of EU countries, Iceland, or Norway who are over the age of 18 are eligible to vote in regional and local elections in their place of residence. Furthermore, individuals who are non-EU citizens or stateless can participate in regional and local elections if they have been formally registered as residents in the Swedish population register for at least three years prior to election day.
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