Elections in Sweden

Elections in Sweden gives information on elections and election results in Sweden.

Sweden elects on national level a unicameral legislature. The "Riksdag" (Diet) has 349 members, elected every four years (every three years between 1970 and 1994) by proportional representation in multi-seat constituencies. County Council and Municipal Council elections take place at the same time. There is a barrier rule intended to prevent very small parties from gaining representation in Parliament. A party must thus receive at least 4% of the votes in the entire country or 12% in a single electoral district to qualify for any seats. Every five years there is also an election to the European Parliament.Sweden has a multi-party system, with numerous parties which seldom receive a simple majority of votes in parliament, and parties must therefore work with each other to form coalition governments.

Riksdag elections

The unicameral parliament has 349 members, out of which 310 are elected on a proportional system in each of the 29 national electoral districts. The remaining 39 seats are awarded on a national basis to further secure a proportional representation.

In the election the voter chooses between the different running parties. Eligible to vote and stand for elections are Swedish Citizens who turn 18 years old no later than on the day of the election.

There are three types of ballots. The first type has the name of a party and a list of their candidates. The second type has the name of a party only. The third type is blank. In other countries, the ballot contains the name of all parties in the election. In Sweden, each party has a separate ballot. If the voter wants to vote for a particular candidate, the first type is selected and a mark made next to the candidate. If the voter wants to vote for a particular party, the second type is selected. The third type is for write-ins. After the ballot is selected and filled in if necessary, it is sealed in an envelope and handed to electoral officers [http://www.val.se/in_english/general_information/political_parties/index.html] .

The government pays for the ballots if a party receives in this election, or has received in one of the last two Riksdag elections more than one percent of the votes in the whole of Sweden.

A party must also pass a set limit of 4% nationally, or 12% in one of the 29 electoral districts, in order to be awarded seats in parliament. Elections are held on the third Sunday of September every four years. The next elections will be held on 19 September 2010.

Latest result

In 2006, the Social democrats had their worst election performance since 1920, while the Moderates had their best in modern times. As a result the center-right alliance won the election for the first time since 1991. Main|Swedish general election, 2006

Election results

Riksdag election results in percent 1911-2006

Table Key

*(v) - Left Party, formerly Communist Party *(s) - Social Democrat Party *(mp) - Green Party *(fp) - Liberal Party *(c) - Centre Party, formerly Peasants League *(m) - Moderate Party, formerly Right-wing Party *(kd) - Christian Democrat Party

*(nyd) - New Democracy *(sp) - Socialist Party *(ssv) - Social Democratic Left Party of Sweden

Riksdag election results articles

European Parliament elections results

Elections for the European Parliament held in Sweden.
*European Parliament Election 2004
*European Parliament Election 1999
*European Parliament Election 1995 (Extra election)

*MEPs for Sweden 2004 - 2009
*MEPs for Sweden 1999 - 2004
*MEPs for Sweden 1995 - 1999

County Council elections results

* Swedish county council elections, 2002

Municipal elections results

* Swedish municipal elections, 2002
** Danderyd municipal election, 2002
** Gnosjö municipal election, 2002
** Stockholm municipal election, 2002
** Pajala municipal election, 2002

Church elections results

* Elections to the Church Assembly, 2005

Trivia

The words meaning "election" and "whale" are homonyms in Swedish (the Swedish word being "val"). Because of this, the Museum of Natural History in Göteborg allows visitors to enter the blue whale every election day (whale day) [http://www.gnm.se/gnm/bilder/malmOst.jpg] .

See also

* Electoral calendar
* Electoral system
* Swedish Election Authority
* Referendums in Sweden

External links

* [http://www.val.se/in_english/index.html Swedish Election Authority] - Official site en icon
* [http://www.val.se/ Valmyndigheten] - Official site sv icon
* [http://www.scb.se/templates/tableOrChart____32065.asp Statistics Sweden: Elections 1910-2005] - Official site sv icon
*United States Department of State - [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2880.htm Sweden] en icon
* [http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/s/sweden/ Adam Carr's Election Archive] en icon
* [http://www.parties-and-elections.de/sweden.html Parties and Elections in Europe] en icon
* [http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/publications/briefings/Euro%20democracies.pdf "European Democracies"] - Electoral Reform Society briefing (.pdf format) en icon