Swedes abroad can vote at IKEA in some parts of the world as Sweden prepares for its general election on 13 September. From 20 August, Swedish citizens outside the country will be able to cast an early ballot at embassies, consulates and around 290 polling locations worldwide, including an IKEA store in Adelaide, Australia.
The unusual polling station is part of a broader effort to make voting easier for Swedes living overseas, a group that has traditionally faced practical obstacles ranging from long distances to diplomatic missions to limited opening hours.
Swedes abroad can vote at IKEA in Adelaide
In Adelaide, the voting location is not a Swedish embassy or consulate but the city’s IKEA store, at 397 Sir Donald Bradman Drive.
According to information published by the Swedish Embassy in Australia, voters will be able to cast their ballots there only between 3 and 5 September.
It is one example of how Swedish authorities use temporary polling locations in countries where citizens may live far from the nearest diplomatic mission. Overseas voters cannot cast their ballots abroad on election day itself, meaning that in-person voting has to take place in advance.
The Swedish Election Authority (Valmyndigheten) says early voting abroad begins on 20 August. Postal voting is another option for people who cannot reach a polling location.
Sweden expands overseas polling ahead of the election
The network of overseas polling locations has grown ahead of the 2026 Swedish election. According to Valmyndigheten, there will be around 290 locations worldwide, up from 266 during the 2022 election.
The expansion follows a government mandate for the authority to work towards increasing electoral participation among Swedish citizens living abroad.
Cecilia Borglin, secretary-general of the non-partisan organisation Swedes Worldwide (Svenskar i Världen), told Swedish news agency TT that there is currently considerable interest in the election among overseas Swedes.
Practical difficulties, however, remain one of the main reasons some do not vote. In-person voting abroad is often available only on particular days, while postal voting depends on ballots reaching Sweden in time.
Living abroad can also affect voter registration
Swedish citizens who have previously been registered as residents in Sweden retain the right to vote in parliamentary elections while living abroad. However, there is an additional administrative requirement for long-term emigrants.
A Swedish citizen remains automatically registered on the electoral roll for ten years after moving abroad. After that period, the person must notify the authorities to remain registered. Casting a vote from abroad can itself renew the registration, according to Valmyndigheten.
The system means Sweden’s election campaign extends far beyond the country’s borders. This year, in a few places, the familiar blue-and-yellow surroundings of an IKEA store will also become part of that electoral infrastructure.
