Taking part, being included

Voting in general elections

General elections are held all over Sweden every four years. At that time, citizens can vote on which political party is to represent them in the municipal councils, county councils or regional councils and the Riksdag (Swedish parliament). To be eligible to vote, you have to be aged 18 or over and registered with a municipality and county council/region. If you're a foreign citizen, you also have to have been registered in Sweden for three years. Only Swedish citizens are allowed to vote in parliamentary elections.

All EU member states hold European Parliament elections every five years. All citizens of EU member states and people with civil registration entries in Sweden are allowed to vote.

Joining a party or interest organisation

Another way of taking part and being included is to become a member of a political party or youth association. You yourself could be elected to represent the party. Party politics create opportunities to work together with others to create a society you believe in, in accordance with your values. You can also get involved in issues which you feel are particularly important.

Membership of interest organisations and associations and voluntary work for these is an active way of making your voice heard, not least on specific issues. There are many different points of focus – immigrant organisations, sports associations, animal rights associations, religious societies, environmental movements and cultural associations, for example.

Submitting responses

All citizens are entitled to submit responses to findings produced by the government.

Citizens' proposals

At municipal and regional levels, anyone who has a civil registration entry in a municipality or county council is entitled to submit what are known as citizens' proposals to councils and to have them dealt with. Citizens of municipalities are also entitled, via what is known as a popular initiative, to test whether a municipal referendum is to be held on specific issues. This may take place if five per cent of citizens in a municipality so request.

Demonstrating and debating

All citizens are entitled to express their views by debating, demonstrating, subscribing to campaigns, writing contributions and arranging meetings, for example.

Democracy characterises society

Democracy is not just found on a political level, but should permeate society as a whole. Democracy is every bit as important in schools (through student advisory work and student influence, for example) as in the workplace (through trade union work and codetermination, for example) and in housing (through tenant associations and housing cooperatives, for example).