On Wednesday last week, the gates were opened for early voting. Early voting has become a popular alternative to voting on election day – and this year the Swedish Electoral Authority has flagged that even more people than usual may vote early due to the spread of covid-19.
– Covid-19 and the spread of infection can lead to an increased willingness to vote early. This has been seen in other countries, says Anna Nyqvist to TT.
No point in waiting
In the Main Library in Linköping, vote recipient Sara Salim notices the increased interest in early voting.
– It is quite popular this year, and it is more than the last election. People simply want it done, she says.
One who took the opportunity to “get it done” was second-time voter Fredrik Fernlund, who took the opportunity to take a break from his studies to vote.
– This is the second election I’ve voted in and it’s the second time I’ve voted early, says Fredrik Fernlund, who also believes that there’s no point in waiting once you’ve made up your mind.
Just over a million votes
According to the Swedish Electoral Authority’s statistics, which are preliminary, 28,754 Eastern Goths and 4,484 Gotlanders have so far voted early.
Across Sweden, just over a million eligible voters have already voted early.