Vote reception abroad
Published: 24 February 2026
When a voter has prepared their vote, the polling staff must take receipt of and check their ballot envelope, verify their identity and finalise their vote.
Before a member of the polling staff takes receipt of a vote, the voter must have prepared it in accordance with the steps outlined on the webpage “Provide the voter with guidance in preparing their vote”.
Prepare to take receipt of votes
Prepare for vote reception by writing the name of the voting location at the top of each voter list – for example, “Swedish Embassy in Oslo” or “Swedish School in London”.
Fill in a daily report for each date on which you carry out vote reception, entering details of the country, voting location, date and opening hours. You can download and print out daily reports from the webpage “Print out election materials for vote reception”.
Take receipt of the voter’s vote(s)
Polling staff must always work together in pairs when taking receipt of votes from voters. That way, you can help each other to ensure that everything is done properly, and to maintain voters’ trust.
Check the voter’s identity
The voter’s ID must include the following:
- photo
- name
- date of birth or personal identity number
Examples of ID include a Swedish passport or driving licence. Alternatively, the voter can show their local ID and state their Swedish personal identity number.
You determine whether a voter has proved their identity.
If a voter does not have ID that you consider acceptable, they are only permitted to vote if someone else in the voting location knows them, and can confirm their identity and show you an acceptable form of ID for themselves. An alternative option is for a member of the polling staff to confirm the voter’s identity.
See also the Swedish Election Authority’s position statement about identity checks during voting.
Make a note in the voter list of how the voter proved their identity
- If the voter provides proof of their identity, put an “x” in the ID box.
- Put an “x” in the box at the bottom if someone else confirms the voter’s identity. Make a note of that person’s personal identity number or date of birth on the dotted line next to the box.
- Put an “x” in the box labelled “känd” (“known”) if the voter proves their identity by being known to a member of the polling staff.
Print out a duplicate voting card from Valid
A duplicate voting card, international voting card or address card is required in order to receive the voter’s vote.
Print out duplicate voting cards
- As a member of the polling staff, in the first instance you should print out a duplicate voting card from Valid.
- An international voting card can be used as a secondary option.
- If a duplicate voting card cannot be printed and a voter does not have an international voting card with them, you must fill in their details on an address card.
Write their personal identity number accurately on the address card
You can choose to fill in an address card on your computer and then print it out to avoid illegible handwriting.
Remember to fill in all 10 digits of the individual’s Swedish personal identity number in the correct order: i.e. the year, month and day of birth, followed by the last four digits (YYMMDD-NNNN). If a voter’s personal identity is entered incorrectly, it may not be possible to count their vote.
Voters abroad do not usually bring a paper voting card with them. But if they do, this voting card can be used. Digital voting cards sent to voters who have a digital mailbox and receive mail from government agencies do not need to be presented or processed. You print out a duplicate voting card from Valid instead.
Individuals’ voting rights are checked in Sweden, so you should never refuse to allow someone to vote even if you are unsure of their eligibility.
Check that ballot envelopes have been prepared correctly
Check that each ballot envelope:
- is closed (it is sufficient for the flap to be folded in)
- contains one (1) unfolded ballot paper
- has no markings on it
If a ballot envelope has not been prepared correctly (for example, if it has been left open or it contains more than one ballot paper) ask the voter to prepare a new vote.
Enter details in the voter list
Now you must enter the following details in the voter list:
- the voter’s name
- the voter’s electoral roll number if you use a duplicate voting card, or their personal identity number if you use an international voting card or address card
- the polling staff member’s initials
- the current date.
Place the ballot envelopes in a window envelope
You must place the voter’s ballot envelope(s) and voting card or address card in a window envelope for early voting, in the presence of the voter.
Seal the window envelope and stick the label from the voter list onto the back of the window envelope
Seal the window envelope properly. Remove the self-adhesive label with a serial number next to the voter’s name on the voter list, and stick it onto the back of the window envelope, on the flap.
Place the window envelope into the preliminary ballot box
Finally, place the early vote into the preliminary vote collection box, in the presence of the voter. Now the voter has voted!
Receive votes by messenger
If a vote arrives in an envelope containing a vote by messenger, check the information available on the webpage “Taking receipt of votes by messenger”.
Close vote reception for the day
Follow the instructions on the webpage “Close vote reception and store the votes received when vote reception ends for the day”.
Frequently asked questions
I can’t find the voter in Valid. Should I fill in an address card?
Yes, voting rights are checked in Sweden. The voter could be a Swede living abroad who is no longer on the electoral roll, in which case a vote received from them is regarded as a submitted notification of registration to the electoral roll.
Does someone who has a coordination number have the right to vote?
No. A voter must have been listed in the Swedish Population Register at some point to be given a personal identity number and added to the electoral roll. It is not sufficient just to have Swedish citizenship.
As a member of the polling staff, should I enter my personal identity number in the voter list?
No. Just write your signature in the box marked “Sign”.
Can I start a new voter list the next time we carry out vote reception?
Yes, that’s fine. It can also be beneficial if you receive a lot of votes, to avoid numbers being mixed up.
Can we fill out an address card if the voter doesn’t remember their personal identity number?
No, their whole personal identity number is required. Otherwise, their vote might not be accepted.