2023-05-102022/23:KU23 · p.9KUConstitution
The ballot paper system
What's at stake: Today's ballot paper system involves significant costs and environmental impact from printing, transport and disposal of ballots, and is seen by many as hard to overview, raising the question of how quickly and in what way the system should be renewed.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the government should investigate a new ballot paper system, or whether today's system with physical ballot papers should be retained pending ongoing considerations.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that the Election Authority's evaluation report highlights that the ballot paper system should be reviewed and expects the government to consider whether such a change should be investigated, but sees no reason at present for the Riksdag to take its own initiative and therefore rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 4 (C)
The reservation wants the government to investigate a new ballot paper system, since the current system involves significant costs and environmental impact from printing, transport, and disposal and recycling of ballots, is seen by many voters as hard to overview, and according to the Election Authority has a large and urgent need for renewal to address vulnerabilities in the election system.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 4 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 94/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 14/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2022/23:648 by Niels Paarup-Petersen (C) and 2022/23:1881 by Malin Björk et al. (C) point 11.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:648 av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C) och 2022/23:1881 av Malin Björk m.fl. (C) yrkande 11.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 40 motions on electoral questions that were received during the general motion period 2022. The proposals address, among other things, separate election days, voting rights and eligibility, lowered voting age, Swedes abroad, electoral districts, personal voting, voting procedure, voters with visual impairment or other functional limitations, the electoral system, incident reporting, publication of opinion polls, geographic representation, municipal election information officers, increased voter participation, and appeals and reassignment of mandates. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to the fact that measures have already been taken in the areas that the motions address.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to strengthen opportunities for democratic participation for people with disabilities. (C) — Reservation 4
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The party programme establishes that people's political power is exercised through universal, free and fair elections and that political democracy shall be defended, strengthened and deepened.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that people's political power is exercised through universal, free and fair elections and that political democracy shall be defended, strengthened and deepened. The election manifesto also requires that reuse and recycling of material increase. To investigate a new ballot paper system, with reference to vulnerabilities, costs and environmental impact, is in line with these principles, but the plan does not address ballot papers and the support is therefore derived.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att folkets politiska makt utövas genom allmänna, fria och rättvisa val och att den politiska demokratin ska försvaras, stärkas och fördjupas. Valmanifestet kräver också att återanvändning och återvinning av material ökar. Att utreda ett nytt valsedelssystem, med hänvisning till sårbarheter, kostnader och miljöpåverkan, ligger i linje med dessa principer, men planen behandlar inte valsedlar och stödet är därför härlett.
- free and fair electionsdecisive»Folkets politiska makt ska utövas av riksdagen, tillsatt genom allmänna, fria och rättvisa val« (party programme ↗)“People's political power shall be exercised by the Riksdag, composed through universal, free and fair elections”
- safeguard electoral system integrity»Den politiska demokratin – ofullgången men ovärderlig« (party programme ↗)“Political democracy – imperfect but invaluable”
- reduce material consumption»Återanvändning och återvinning av material behöver öka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reuse and recycling of material need to increase.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan does not address the ballot system.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address the ballot system. The nearest-lying principles are that confidence in democracy is determined by citizens' opportunity to participate and that the democratic process and administration shall be based on public principle and transparency, and that natural resources shall be used more efficiently. That a new, more comprehensible and resource-efficient ballot system is investigated is in line with this, but the foundation is weak.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte valsedelssystemet. Närmast liggande principer är att tilltron till demokratin avgörs av medborgarnas möjlighet till medverkan och att den demokratiska processen och förvaltningen ska bygga på offentlighet och insyn, samt att naturtillgångarna ska användas mer effektivt. Att utreda ett nytt, mer överskådligt och resurseffektivt valsedelssystem ligger i linje med detta, men underlaget är svagt.
- citizen participationdecisive»Tilltron till demokratin avgörs såväl av medborgarnas möjlighet till medverkan« (party programme ↗)“Confidence in democracy is determined both by citizens' opportunity to participate”
- open and comprehensible process»Den demokratiska processen och samhällsförvaltningen måste bygga på offentlighet och« (party programme ↗)“The democratic process and public administration must be based on public principle and”
- resource efficiency»Naturtillgångarna måste användas mer effektivt« (party programme ↗)“Natural resources must be used more efficiently”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan says nothing about ballot papers, but the party programme requires that waste of materials is reduced and that participatory democracy is based on accessible information, while the election manifesto states that democracy must never be taken for granted.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about ballot papers, but the party programme requires that waste of materials is reduced and that participatory democracy is based on accessible information, while the election manifesto states that democracy must never be taken for granted. The counter-proposal's demand for an investigation into a new ballot system — citing costs, environmental impact, lack of clarity and vulnerabilities — follows from these principles. The conclusion is, however, derived from general commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger inget om valsedlar, men partiprogrammet kräver att resursslöseri med material minskas och att en deltagande demokrati bygger på lättillgänglig information, medan valmanifestet slår fast att demokratin aldrig får tas för given. Motförslagets krav på en utredning av ett nytt valsedelssystem — med hänvisning till kostnader, miljöpåverkan, svåröverskådlighet och sårbarheter — följer av dessa principer. Slutsatsen är dock härledd ur allmänna åtaganden.
- reduce material wastedecisive»minska användningen av ändliga resurser, sluta slösa med energi och material« (party programme ↗)“reduce the use of finite resources, stop wasting energy and materials”
- protect the electoral system's robustness»Den svenska demokratin är stark och livskraftig, men vi får aldrig ta den för given.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish democracy is strong and vibrant, but we must never take it for granted.”
- understandable democratic process»En deltagande demokrati kräver lättillgänglig information« (party programme ↗)“A participatory democracy requires accessible information”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan establishes that democratic institutions need protection and that liberal democracy should be cared for and further developed, which speaks to addressing known vulnerabilities in the electoral system.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that democratic institutions need protection and that liberal democracy should be cared for and further developed, which speaks to addressing known vulnerabilities in the electoral system. The plan furthermore wants Sweden to become the world's most resource-efficient country, which supports a review of a ballot system with large material consumption. Investigating a new system thus follows from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att de demokratiska institutionerna behöver skydd och att den liberala demokratin ska vårdas och vidareutvecklas, vilket talar för att åtgärda kända sårbarheter i valsystemet. Planen vill dessutom att Sverige blir världens mest resurseffektiva land, vilket stödjer en översyn av ett valsedelssystem med stor materialförbrukning. Att utreda ett nytt system följer därmed av planen.
- protect the electoral systemdecisive»Våra demokratiska institutioner behöver skydd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our democratic institutions need protection.”
- democracy should be further developed»Den liberala demokratin får aldrig tas för given. Den ska vårdas, värnas och vidareutvecklas — idag och för kommande generationer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Liberal democracy must never be taken for granted. It should be cared for, protected and further developed—today and for future generations.”
- resource efficiency»Sverige ska bli världens mest resurseffektiva land och ekonomin mer cirkulär.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should become the world's most resource-efficient country and the economy more circular.”
The plan does not take a position on the ballot paper system, but establishes that all public functions that can be made digitally accessible at reasonable cost also shall be made so, and that voters' power shall be strengthened.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not take a position on the ballot paper system, but establishes that all public functions that can be made digitally accessible at reasonable cost also shall be made so, and that voters' power shall be strengthened. Together with the requirement that waste's environmental impact be reduced and that Swedish democracy shall stand strong, it speaks to investigating a new system. The conclusion is derived from general principles.
Original (Swedish)
Planen tar inte ställning till valsedelssystemet, men slår fast att alla offentliga funktioner som till rimlig kostnad kan göras digitalt tillgängliga också ska göras det, och att väljarens makt ska förstärkas. Tillsammans med kravet att avfallets miljöpåverkan minskas och att den svenska demokratin ska stå stark talar det för att utreda ett nytt system. Slutsatsen härleds ur allmänna principer.
- digitalize public functionsdecisive»En central princip är därför att alla offentliga funktioner som till en rimlig kostnad« (party programme ↗)“A central principle is therefore that all public functions that at reasonable cost”
- strengthened voter power»För att förstärka väljarens makt ska procentspärrarna i personvalet sänkas, så att fler av ett partis kandidater« (party programme ↗)“To strengthen voters' power, the percentage thresholds in personal voting shall be lowered, so that more of a party's candidates”
- reduced waste impact»Avfallets miljöpåverkan ska minskas genom fungerande återanvändning och återbruk.« (party programme ↗)“Waste's environmental impact shall be reduced through functioning reuse and recycling.”
- protect democracy»Värna den liberala demokratin. Den svenska demokratin ska stå stark och dina rättigheter ska försvaras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect liberal democracy. Swedish democracy shall stand strong and your rights shall be defended.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires that ballot secrecy is protected, that the election system has a strong element of personal votes and that complaints about the election's correctness can be reviewed, which makes the ballot paper system's vulnerabilities a question the plan cares about.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that ballot secrecy is protected, that the election system has a strong element of personal votes and that complaints about the election's correctness can be reviewed, which makes the ballot paper system's vulnerabilities a question the plan cares about. An investigation of a new ballot system is a means to address them. The plan's stewardship with requirement that waste is primarily prevented also supports the objection against printing and disposal of ballot papers.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att valhemligheten skyddas, att valsystemet har ett starkt inslag av personval och att klagomål om valens riktighet kan prövas, vilket gör valsedelssystemets sårbarheter till en fråga planen bryr sig om. En utredning av ett nytt valsedelssystem är ett medel för att åtgärda dem. Planens förvaltarskap med krav på att avfall främst förebyggs stöder också invändningen mot tryckning och kassering av valsedlar.
- protected ballot secrecydecisive»Valhemligheten ska skyddas.« (party programme ↗)“Ballot secrecy shall be protected.”
- review of election correctness»ska vara att pröva klagomål angående riktigheten av« (party programme ↗)“shall be to review complaints regarding the correctness of”
- strong personal votes»Ett starkt inslag av personval bör finnas.« (party programme ↗)“A strong element of personal votes should exist.”
- prevent waste»Avfallshantering ska främst utgå från att förebygga avfall, sedan« (party programme ↗)“Waste management shall primarily be based on preventing waste, then”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires zero tolerance for attacks on our democratic processes and states that citizens appoint their representatives in free and secret elections, which points to addressing known vulnerabilities in the electoral system.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires zero tolerance for attacks on our democratic processes and states that citizens appoint their representatives in free and secret elections, which points to addressing known vulnerabilities in the electoral system. It furthermore wants to systematically review the finances of authorities to free up resources, which supports that costly routines be reviewed. The ballot paper system is not addressed, so the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver nolltolerans mot angrepp på våra demokratiska processer och slår fast att medborgarna utser sina representanter i fria och hemliga val, vilket talar för att åtgärda kända sårbarheter i valsystemet. Den vill dessutom systematiskt gå igenom myndigheternas ekonomi för att frigöra resurser, vilket stödjer att kostsamma rutiner ses över. Valsedelssystemet behandlas inte, så slutsatsen är härledd.
- protection of the electoral processdecisive»fritt samhälle har nolltolerans mot alla typer av hot och våld,« (party programme ↗)“free society has zero tolerance for all forms of threats and violence,”
- free and secret elections»Medborgarna ska utse sina politiska representanter« (party programme ↗)“Citizens shall appoint their political representatives”
- cost-effective administration»Inrätta ett effektiviseringskansli som ska gå inom alla myndigheters ekonomi för att frigöra resurser till försvaret« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Establish an efficiency office that shall go through all authorities' finances to free up resources for defence”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan demands that the Swedish electoral system be strengthened so that general elections can be conducted reliably.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands that the Swedish electoral system be strengthened so that general elections can be conducted reliably. An investigation of the ballot paper system, which according to government report has vulnerabilities, lies directly on that line. The plan's demand to scale back unnecessary public spending also supports that the system's costs be reviewed.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att det svenska valsystemet stärks så att allmänna val kan genomföras på ett tillförlitligt sätt. En utredning av valsedelssystemet, som enligt myndighetsrapport har sårbarheter, ligger direkt i den linjen. Planens krav på att skala bort onödiga offentliga utgifter stödjer dessutom att systemets kostnader ses över.
- tillförlitligt valsystemdecisive»Det svenska valsystemet bör stärkas för att garantera att allmänna val kan genomföras på ett tillförlitligt sätt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Swedish electoral system should be strengthened to guarantee that general elections can be conducted reliably.”
- motverka fusk»Både fusk och sådana system som tenderar att locka till fusk och korruption ska motverkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Both fraud and such systems that tend to tempt fraud and corruption should be prevented.”
- bort med onödiga utgifter»Skala bort onödiga utgifter i det offentliga« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Scale back unnecessary spending in the public sector”
- folkstyrets legitimitet»Att all offentlig makt i Sverige skall utgå från folket« (party programme ↗)“That all public power in Sweden shall emanate from the people”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:KU23)
- Committee report full text (HA01KU23)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1041 — Åtgärder för en starkare geografisk representation i riksdagen av Kalle Olsson och Anna-Caren Sätherberg (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1073 — Likformig bedömning av personröster av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1357 — Förtydligande av vallagen av Joakim Sandell (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1450 — Opinionsundersökning nära val av Adnan Dibrani (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1619 — Fler valsedelsbås i vallokalerna av Kerstin Lundgren (C)
- Motion 2022/23:181 — Stärk demokratin och de mänskliga rättigheterna av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:1843 — Skaraborgs valkrets av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1881 — Konstitutionella frågor av Malin Björk m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1882 — En starkare liberal demokrati av Malin Björk m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1911 — Stockholm - möjligheternas storstadsregion av Malin Danielsson m.fl. (L)
- Motion 2022/23:2116 — Rösträtt och valbarhet i allmänna val bör kopplas till medborgarskap av Boriana Åberg m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2022/23:2141 — Svenskar i utlandet av Markus Wiechel och Lars Andersson (båda SD)
- Motion 2022/23:2234 — Synskadade och valsystemet av Eric Palmqvist (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:301 — Skilda valdagar för en bättre lokal demokrati av Stefan Olsson (M)
- Motion 2022/23:44 — Utlandssvenskarnas möjligheter att delta i val av Hans Wallmark (M)
- Motion 2022/23:45 — Stärkande av utlandssvenskarnas ställning av Hans Wallmark (M)
- Motion 2022/23:648 — Det svenska valsystemet av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2022/23:707 — Skilda valdagar av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:723 — Avskaffade spärrar för personval av Robert Hannah (L)
- Motion 2022/23:75 — Överväg digitalt valdeltagande av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
Source: The Swedish Parliament