Swedish expatriates begin voting in July national election

On 30 July, Swedish citizens living abroad were allowed to cast their ballots in the upcoming Swedish parliamentary election. Several parties are actively courting the roughly 220 000 expatriate voters – the Sweden Democrats targeting Swedes on Spain’s Costa del Sol, while the Centre Party and the Green Party have been campaigning in London.

Political scientist Henrik Ekengren Oscarsson estimates that only about 30 % of the diaspora usually votes, yielding roughly 70‑80 000 votes that could be decisive because overseas ballots are counted after election night. He noted, “Det finns lika många som heter Kerstin,” highlighting the group’s size. Past surveys show expatriates lean slightly right, but the professor stressed that other voter blocs such as families with children and first‑time voters are more influential in tight contests like the 2022 election, which was decided by a margin of about 46 000 votes.