Elections in Sweden are proportional, which means that the number of seats which each political party receives in the Swedish parliament, the County Council, the Municipal Council and the European Parliament are in proportion to the number of votes its candidates received in each respective election. Elections are held every fourth year for the Swedish Parliament, the County Council and the Municipal Council.

Who is entitled to vote?
To vote in elections for the Swedish Parliament, the County Council and the Municipal Council you must be:

• a Swedish citizen
• 18 years of age or older on the election date
• registered in the electoral register
• not declared incapable of managing your own affairs.

Citizens from another EU member state or Iceland and Norway who are 18 years of age or older on the election day and who are registered in Sweden can vote in the County Council and Municipal Council elections.

Citizens who are entitled to vote in a Swedish parliamentary election also are entitled to vote in elections to the European Parliament.

EU citizens who fulfil the conditions stated above and who have not voted in a European Parliament election in another member state are entitled to vote in a European Parliament election in Sweden.

Other foreign citizens are entitled to vote in County Council and Municipal Council elections if they meet the above requirements and if they have been registered residents of Sweden for three consecutive years on the election date.

Eligibility for office
A Swedish citizen who fulfils the requirements for voting can be elected as a member of the Swedish Parliament, County Council or Municipal Council. To be elected in a County Council or Municipal Council election you must be a registered resident within the county or municipality in question.