Parties are stepping up efforts to reach the roughly 220,000 overseas Swedes registered to vote ahead of the autumn election. Low turnout makes the group strategically important in close races.
The Sweden Democrats have set up a dedicated working group and are building networks in countries including the United States, Norway, Britain, Spain and Thailand. The aim is to ensure ballot papers are available at embassies and consulates. The Social Democrats are expanding communication and have already received invitations to election debates in London and Brussels. The Moderates and Liberals will also run targeted campaigns. The Election Authority has been given a special government assignment to facilitate overseas voting. Around 82,000 people at risk of dropping off the electoral roll have been contacted, and postal votes can begin to be sent on 30 July. A University of Gothenburg study after the 2014 election showed that overseas Swedes tended to vote more to the right than the average voter.
