The Church of Sweden is organised on democratic principles and is dependent on people’s personal involvement. Everyone is welcome to participate, take initiatives and share responsibility.
In the church elections members of the Church of Sweden are given the opportunity to vote for the groups and individuals who will be making decisions on issues affecting the Church’s activities and its future.
When are the church elections?
On Sunday 20th September 2009. Elections are held in the Church of Sweden every four years on the third Sunday in September.
Who will we be electing?
Those who will govern the Church over the next four years. Representatives are elected directly to the Parish Assembly or Parish Council in parishes, to the Association Vestry in an association of parishes, to the Diocesan Council in dioceses and to the General Synod at the national level.
Who is entitled to vote?
To vote you must be a member of the Church of Sweden, registered as resident in Sweden on 21th August (when the electoral register is confirmed), and aged 16 or over on election day at the latest.
How many people are entitled to vote?
Around 5.6 million members.
How many people voted in the previous church elections?
Around 700 000 people or 12% of those entitled to vote.
Who can stand for election?
To stand for election the candidate must on election day be a member of the Church of Sweden, have been baptised in the Church of Sweden or another Christian denomination, or have previously been an elected representative of the Church of Sweden, and be aged 18 or over on election day at the latest. The candidate must also be registered as a resident in the area in which he or she is standing for election. For the General Synod, however, a person can only stand for election in the diocese where he or she is registered, which means, for example, that someone living in the diocese of Visby cannot be elected to represent the residents of the diocese of Luleå. In addition a person standing for election must be included in the register of nomination groups and candidates drawn up by the diocese. Some exceptions apply for those employed by the Church of Sweden. There are currently around 36 000 people who are elected representatives of the Church of Sweden through direct elections.
How can I become a candidate?
A candidate must be nominated by a nomination group and have stated that he/she is willing to stand for election.
What do I vote for?
The groups participating in the church elections are called nomination groups. These may be political associations or other interest groups created to participate in the church elections. Information about which groups and candidates are participating will be made available at
www.svenskakyrkan.se/kyrkoval prior to the elections.
What are the requirements for forming a nomination group?
To be registered as a nomination group, support from a certain number of people entitled to vote in the elections is required. At least 10 people need to support the application from a group that wishes to take part in elections at parish level or in an association of parishes, while at the diocesan level 100 people and for the General Synod 300 people are required.
Contact your diocesan office for more information on how nomination groups are formed. You can also order the necessary forms from them. The phone number is at the end of this leaflet.
When is the closing date for applications and registration?
The forms should be sent in before 15th April and no later than 15th May 2009.
When will I receive my electoral card?
On around 2nd September 2009. The card includes information on which elections you are entitled to vote in and which polling station you should go to.
How do I vote?
On election day, 20th September 2009, the polling stations are generally open for at least six hours. All polling stations are open between 6 pm and 8 pm. Information on opening hours and polling stations can be found on your electoral card.
You can vote in advance at parish offices throughout the country on weekdays between 7th–16th September 2009.
You can also vote in advance by postal vote and where there are some special arrangements for registering votes, e.g. at certain care facilities.
Information on polling stations, opening hours and material for postal votes is available at parish offices.
Voting by proxy is an option for those unable to visit the polling station.
Can I vote for a particular candidate?
In the elections on 20th September 2009 you will be able to vote for a particular candidate to a greater extent than in previous church elections. You can indicate on the ballot paper the three people you would prefer to be elected.
When are the results of the elections presented?
A preliminary count of the votes is made directly after the polling stations close.
As soon as the preliminary results are available they will be presented at
www.svenskakyrkan.se/kyrkoval. The diocese is then responsible for the final count.
Where can I get more information?
Who can answer my questions on the church elections?
Please contact your diocese:
Uppsala diocese +46 (0)18-68 07 00
Linköping diocese +46 (0)13-24 26 00
Skara diocese +46 (0)511-262 00
Strängnäs diocese +46 (0)152-234 00
Västerås diocese +46 (0)21-17 85 00
Växjö diocese +46 (0)470-77 38 00
Lund diocese +46 (0)46-15 55 00
Göteborg diocese +46 (0)31-771 30 00
Karlstad diocese +46 (0)54-17 24 67
Härnösand diocese +46 (0)611-254 00
Luleå diocese +46 (0)920-26 47 00
Visby diocese +46 (0)498-40 49 00
Stockholm diocese +46 (0)8-508 940 00
You can also contact your parish, or the Church of Sweden Information Desk: +46 (0)18-16 96 00,
info@svenskakyrkan.se.
