Röstsedel

Röstsedel is the ballot paper used in Swedish elections to cast a vote. It is produced for each election by the election authority and distributed to voters at polling stations. A röstsedel lists the selectable options for that election, typically the names or symbols of parties and, in some cases, a list of candidates. The design and contents are adapted to the type of election (parliamentary, municipal, county council or European Parliament).

Voters mark their choice on the röstsedel in a designated area to indicate their vote. In many elections voters can also mark a preferred candidate within a party list to cast a personal vote. Some voters may choose to vote blank by leaving the röstsedel unmarked or by following specific instructions to abstain. After marking, the röstsedel is placed in the ballot box at the polling station.

Invalid ballots can occur if the röstsedel is torn, marked outside the allowed areas, or contains marks indicating more than one choice. Blank ballots are treated as a separate category and do not contribute to any party’s total. The röstsedel is then counted along with all other ballots to determine the election results, which are used to allocate seats in proportion to the votes received.

Administration and security are central to the process. The electoral authority and local election boards supervise printing, handling, and counting of röstsedler, with procedures designed to prevent fraud and ensure voter privacy and ballot integrity.