Anyone seeking to stand on an open candidate list must submit their consent by September 11, 2026. Candidates wishing to withdraw face an earlier deadline: September 10. The Swedish Election Authority highlights the distinction in its September 7 update.
What happened?
So far, 54,785 people have consented to candidacy, according to the authority’s update. Consent can be submitted on paper or digitally using electronic identification. Open lists offer two routes: appearing on a ballot paper prepared by the party, or independently consenting to stand without being among the party’s listed candidates.
A party can therefore print a ballot paper naming candidates while leaving its list open to others. Someone already named on that paper does not have to consent before printing. However, to be elected, that person must submit consent by the September 11 deadline.
Location
Sverige
Impact and significance
A printed name on a ballot paper is therefore not sufficient on its own to make someone eligible for election. Two requirements highlighted by the authority are timely consent and the right to vote in the election concerned. Voting eligibility does not replace consent, and consent does not replace the voting eligibility requirement.
A different procedure applies to candidates who want to withdraw. They must send a written, signed notification to the county administrative board by September 10. The later consent deadline must therefore not be treated as the last date for withdrawing a candidacy.
Background
An open list allows people whom a party has not listed to consent to standing for that party. According to the Election Authority, the party cannot prevent them from submitting this consent. Such a candidate’s name is not printed on a ballot paper but is published on val.se when consent has been received. A candidate named on the party’s ballot paper also has their name published there once their consent has arrived.
Latest update
The notice concerns candidates on open lists and specifies two different deadlines, but no particular time of day. Anyone submitting or withdrawing consent should therefore consult the Election Authority’s candidate guidance for the correct procedure. The figure of 54,785 people is a snapshot as of September 7, not a final pre-election total.
Sources
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Reviewed: 2026-09-07. Independent editorial content. WUA Sverige is not affiliated with any political party.