Irregularities reported in Sweden's EU vote

Published: 22 Jun 09 08:02 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/20196/20090622/

There were a number of problems associated with the European Parliament vote held in Sweden two weeks ago, according to a post-election report.

Increased voter turnout due to young men: poll (13 Jun 09)
Party leaders lament low voter turnout (8 Jun 09)
'A political sensation': Pirate Party leader (8 Jun 09)

In some cases plastic bags were used instead of ballot boxes, election officials found themselves locked out of polling stations, and at some voting locations, unauthorized people were allowed to place ballots into ballot boxes.

The irregularities are among several found in a Stockholm County polling station protocol reviewed by Sveriges Radio (SR).

Another common problem was the absence of ballots for newer or smaller parties.

Parties which received less than one percent of the vote in the previous election were forced to distribute ballots to polling stations themselves.

However, these party-distributed ballots had a tendency to disappear or be placed in out-of-the-way places.

Birgitta Westerdahl, chair of the Salem election district south of Stockholm, told SR of a first-time voter who was unable to find a ballot for the Pirate Party.

He then received inaccurate information that it wasn’t possible to write-in the party name on a blank ballot sheet.

In the end, he ended up voting for another party.

The parties who feel their ballots were mismanaged can appeal to the validation board at the Swedish Election Authority (Valprövningsnämnden), but action is only taken if the mistakes are believed to have affected to outcome of the election.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

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12:38 June 22, 2009 by dtes

if voting changed anything they would ban it! this is so typical of the "democratic process"

Report abuse »

13:02 June 22, 2009 by Harding00

Somewhat confused by your comment. Do you mean to imply that we should have a totalitarian government here, or anywhere else?

Report abuse »

14:31 June 22, 2009 by glamelixir

I couldn't vote because "they lost my papers in the post office"

I am an Italian citizen, and they sent me a letter asking me if I wanted to vote there or here, I picked Sweden and sent my paper.

When I went to vote I was not listed because they didn't recieve the paper. Of course I couldn't vote in Italy because I resign to my right there for this.

Called everyone and nobody from Swedis authorities could give me a solution. One even said I was not allow to vote because I am an immigrant!!!!

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17:01 June 22, 2009 by tetsuo_red

"If voting changed anything they'd make it illegal" ~ Emma Goldman

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22:46 June 22, 2009 by spy

Yes and she also said:

"Politics is the reflex of the business and industrial world."

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07:31 June 23, 2009 by sweco1

I think these voting irregulartites you are seeing is a systemic effort by a group of people that are trying to change the out come of the election!

I have seen these same tactic used in the U.S.

Swedish voters should take this voting irregulartites very seriously!

Oh and don't trust some of the Italians.

Report abuse »

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