My first Swedish vote

So that was it, a bit like ones first ‘bunk up’ weeks of anticipation and it was over in seconds yes this morning I voted for the first time ever in a foreign country as a EU National.

My actual Swedish ballot paper

Such a historic moment that I took a quick pic of my ballot paper in the ballot booth with my phone.

It was an interesting experience.

In the UK you rock up and some Party workers in rosettes will ask for your polling number. They do this so they can cross you off the list from their canvassing returns…something else thats not done in Sweden. Then you go in, show your credentials and are given one ballot paper with all the parties on and you put a claw mark next to the Party and candidate of your choice.

I made my way up to Årsta Skolan, it was a cracking day, best day since Monday and the first person to thrust a ballot paper in my hand was the Left Party. Most of the Parties have a representative outside the polling station and you can take the ballot paper from the Party you support. I laughed at the Vänsterpartiet candidate and told him in English that me voting for them would be like a Turkey voting for Christmas! As a foreign worker I would lose all my rights if the Left Party pulled Sverige out of the EU.

I did take the ballot paper from the FP guy and went on in.

On a table are all the party ballots so you pick up one sheet for each Party. Some people actually do this, they pick up all the Parties and then case a vote in an envelope which you are given. Hardly environmentally friendly is it, mind you if I was voting for the Social Democrats I would not want anyone to know either.

You then get ushered to some booths and cast your vote. Thats where I took the quick pic of my ballot paper. You then go the Election officers, I showed my voting card and my ID and of course they could not pronounce my name..not sure how many foreigners actually bother to vote in the EU elections.

I handed my envelope over and they put it in the ballot box and that was it.

On the way out I shook hands with the Folkpartiet guy and wished them all the best..the Vänster guy kept staring at my, hej då comrade!

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