Close vote reception and store the votes received
Published: 23 February 2026
Each time you close vote reception for the day, you must store the early votes received and voter lists in a safe place until they are sent to Sweden.
Close vote reception
- If there are still voters queuing or on their way in at closing time, they must be given the opportunity to vote.
- Then close vote reception and empty the ballot box.
- Count the early votes (white window envelopes) received and record this number in the daily report.
- Sign the daily report and store it where vote reception has taken place if possible. If not, store it at a secure location.
- If you have any leftover voting cards or other materials with personal data, destroy these in a safe way.
- Save leftover voting materials in a secure manner for the next time vote reception is conducted.
Store the votes in a secure place
Votes and voter lists must be stored securely. Secure storage necessitates a separate lockable space to which only the appointed election manager or polling staff have access. For increased security, you can store votes at a location equipped with alarms connected to an alarm monitoring centre, and with traceable access control.
You should use either one or more storage units (such as secure cabinets or safes), depending on the number of early votes cast. Find out about our general recommendations on the webpage “Protection of voting locations and storage spaces”.
If such secure spaces are not available at the location for vote reception, votes and other materials must be safely transported to a secure storage facility on a daily basis. Check our recommendations on the webpage “Secure transportation”.
Protection of voting locations and storage spaces (in Swedish) External link.
Send the votes to Sweden
Follow the instructions on the webpage “Send the votes to Sweden”. Here there is information about how to package and send the votes. If you receive many votes, you must send off several consignments during the vote reception period. If you receive few votes, you can send them all in a single consignment when you have closed vote reception for the last time.