There is quite a lot of interest now among Swedes abroad, says the association's secretary general Cecilia Borglin.
In the last election, voter turnout among Swedes living abroad was 32 percent.
"There are many so-called couch potatoes out there, but I wouldn't say they are passive. Unlike when people in Sweden choose not to vote, it is mainly due to practical obstacles," she says.
The Election Authority has been tasked by the government with working to increase voter turnout among Swedes living abroad. The number of places for voting abroad has increased this year from 266 in the last election to approximately 290.
Dropping from the electoral roll
Ten years after moving from Sweden, you fall off the electoral roll and must actively re-register.
This spring, the Election Authority sent letters to 82,000 Swedes living abroad who had dropped off, or were about to drop off. Since then, 13,000 have registered to vote.
Actually, the group of Swedes abroad who have dropped off is twice as large, 164,000 people, but the letter could only be sent to those who have an address listed in the population register.
In survey responses collected by Swedes around the world, Swedes abroad point to the distance to the nearest embassy or consulate as one of the reasons why they do not vote.
The possibility of early voting abroad is in many cases limited to a few dates. For example, if you live near Adelaide in Australia, you can vote at Ikea, but only September 3-5. It is also possible to vote by mail, but slow mail delivery can be a risk factor.
Missing the final sprint
If you are abroad, you cannot vote on election day, but long before that, says Cecilia Borglin.
So you can't wait for the final push of the election campaign, but must make a choice before all political statements are made.
In the survey, many also say that they don't know how to proceed. Others state that they feel they are not well-informed about Swedish politics or that they don't think it is right to vote in a country they don't live in.
Cecilia Borglin disagrees:
Firstly, even Swedes who have lived abroad for a very long time are affected by political decisions made in Sweden. This can affect everything from citizenship to pensions or taxes. The second, at least as important, reason for voting is that it is a democratic right.
Facts: Voting as a Swede living abroad
Approximately 220,000 Swedes living abroad will be able to vote in this year's parliamentary elections.
Swedes abroad are Swedish citizens who have at some point been registered in Sweden and who have emigrated.
They can either vote from abroad or vote early if they are visiting Sweden.
From abroad, Swedes living abroad can either vote by mail or vote early at an embassy or consulate.
Postal votes from abroad were allowed to begin being sent from July 30th.
Early voting abroad will start on August 20th at the earliest, but the opening hours of the vote collection facilities vary.
Swedes living abroad must register on the electoral roll every ten years to remain on it.
Source: Election Authority
