A larger proportion voted in the parliamentary elections in vulnerable areas in 2026

A larger proportion voted in the parliamentary election in vulnerable areas in 2026 than in 2022. Voter turnout increased by 6.2 percentage points, from 54.9 percent to 61.1 percent. This is shown by a survey made by SVT of 75 electoral districts in areas that the police class as vulnerable. In 69 of the districts, turnout increased.

During the election campaign, efforts were made by municipalities and non-profit associations to get more people to vote, and mosques and political parties mobilized in vulnerable areas. That could be an explanation, according to Zeth Isaksson, who researches voter behavior at Stockholm University. He also highlights that it may have been perceived as easier to vote, and mentions the increase in early voting.

Various debates in the election campaign that affected people with a foreign background in the areas may also have made a difference, according to Karl-Oskar Lindgren, professor of political science at Uppsala University. He mentions issues related to the conflicts in the Middle East and migration.

- There has been a lot of discussion about permanent and temporary residence permits and about revoking citizenship, he says.

Information about election fraud

In the last week, there has been a lot of talk about suspected election fraud, including in Borlänge and Järva in Stockholm. The prosecutor's office has at least six ongoing cases with the criminal classification improperly acting on voting.

Karl-Oskar Lindgren believes that it is too early to draw any conclusions as to whether any electoral fraud may have contributed to the increasing turnout.

- I have a hard time seeing that as election fraud to just encourage someone. as long as people can make their own choices. But if they exposed to pressure, then it is a problem.

He also points out that it is in few districts where electoral fraud is suspected and that voter turnout has increased in many areas.

Still no top rating

At the same time, this year's increased voter turnout is not a peak in vulnerable areas – rather a recovery to 2018's level, after a race in 2022.

In 2018, turnout in the mapped vulnerable areas was 63.6 percent. In the 2022 election, the figure dropped to 54.9 percent, to increase this year to 61.1 percent

Voter turnout in the surveyed areas has consistently been well below the national average for the last three elections. In the whole country, the turnout was 84.9 percent.