More parties but fewer candidates in this year’s election

There is no shortage of parties to choose from in this year’s local elections to regions and municipalities.

But the candidates are fewer than in the last election, shows a report from Sweden’s municipalities and regions (SKR).

According to SKR’s report, which is based on information from the Swedish Electoral Authority, it looks like there will be at least 51,833 people running for municipal council on Sunday – around 1,400 fewer candidates than in 2018.

In the regional council election, however, the number of candidates has increased slightly, by 170 people to 12,599 candidates. Overall, therefore, fewer people stand for the regional and municipal elections.

The number of parties running has increased in all elections this year. 321 parties stand in the election to the municipal council compared to 299 parties in the last election. 122 parties stand for regional council, compared to 102 in the last election.

The balance between men and women in elected positions will, of course, be determined by Sunday’s election. During the mandate period 2018–2022, men have been in the majority. At the regional level, 57 percent of elected representatives have been men and at the municipal level, 52 percent are men.

Overall, it is more equal between the sexes in the younger age groups than the older ones.

Note that the Electoral Authority’s figures were retrieved on 12 August and that the number of candidates and parties may have changed since then.