Decreased participation in the EU election

Participation declined in this year's election to the EU Parliament. Almost half of all eligible Swedish voters did not go to the polling stations. The participation reflects that there has been weak election fever, says political scientist Andreas Johansson Heinö to TT.

» Updated: July 16 2024

» Published: June 09 2024

Decreased participation in the EU election
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

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Turnout declined in this year's election to the European Parliament. Almost half of all eligible Swedish voters did not go to the polling stations.

The Swedish turnout is currently estimated at 50.7% with around 500 polling stations still to report. This is a clear decline compared to 2019, when the turnout was 55.3%.

The European turnout is estimated at 51%.

Andreas Johansson Heinö says that several parties have been poor at mobilizing their voters, particularly the Sweden Democrats.

The trend of increasing turnout in recent EU elections has been broken.

The lowest turnout in Sweden was in 2004, when just 37.9% of eligible voters cast their ballots.

There is a significant difference in turnout between the EU election and the election to the Riksdag. In the 2022 Riksdag election, 84.2% of eligible voters voted.

Facts: Turnout in previous EU elections

TT

2019 55.3%

2014 51.1%

2009 45.5%

2004 37.9%

1999 38.8%

1995 41.6%

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

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