Gagnef politicians counted votes despite Election Authority warnings

In Gagnef Municipality, Sweden, active politicians were permitted to serve as election officials and count votes during the recent election, despite strong warnings from the Swedish Election Authority. The Election Authority advises against candidates receiving or counting votes in the same election in which they are running.

Fredrick Federley (Center Party), a candidate for both the regional and municipal councils, served as vice chairman in one polling station. Ari Vähäjylkkä (Christian Democrats), a municipal candidate, served as chairman in another.

Birgitta Floresjö, chair of the Gagnef Election Committee, stated that the decision was made unanimously after consulting a legal expert from the County Administrative Board. She described the move as a pragmatic necessity, noting the difficulty of finding experienced staff in a small municipality who do not have ties to any political lists. While some voters expressed discomfort, Federley maintained that the practice does not violate any rules and was done at the municipality's request to ensure experienced leadership in the polling stations.