Sweden prepares for 2026 local and regional elections

Swedish municipalities are mobilising volunteers to staff polling stations for the 13 September 2026 elections to the Riksdag, regional councils and 310 municipal assemblies. Säffle municipality, for example, is seeking 11 ballot receivers across several districts, outlining duties such as maintaining order in the voting hall, handling ballot papers, assisting voters and counting votes after polls close. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, complete a two‑hour mandatory training session and will receive compensation from the municipality.

At the same time, the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR) launched a new website displaying detailed statistics on all 39 000 locally elected officials. The data show that over 99 % of officials serve in a municipality or region, 96 % of municipal politicians and 93 % of regional politicians are part‑time, and women make up about 43 % of municipal and 48 % of regional representatives. Ten percent of the elected are foreign‑born. The tool also highlights that one‑quarter of officials reported experiencing threats or violence in the preceding year, a risk that rises during election cycles.