Sweden’s 2022 parliamentary election turnout drop highlights a widening democratic divide between affluent areas and socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhoods, according to official data and election researchers.
In the 2022 election, voter turnout in Sweden declined for the first time in 20 years. The drop was sharpest in areas where voter participation was already low, characterized by high concentrations of rental housing, foreign backgrounds, and low incomes, according to statistics compiled from the source material.
Voter Turnout Plummets in Hovsjö, Södertälje
In the miljonprogram suburb of Hovsjö in Södertälje, voter turnout hit the lowest level in the country during the 2022 parliamentary election. Only 48.2 percent of eligible residents cast a ballot, according to election records. The average monthly net income in Hovsjö sits below knappt 19 000 kronor efter skatt, with over 92 percent of residents having a foreign background and 67 percent living in rental housing, based on the provided figures.
The neighborhood is classified by police as a particularly vulnerable area with low socioeconomic status and significant criminal influence. Local baker Sarmad Al-khamisi, who immigrated from Iraq and has abstained from voting in the past two recent elections, points to economic pressures and a widespread local feeling that politicians will not enact change. “People here don’t think it matters if you vote,” Al-khamisi says, though he notes that Sweden remains a good country for healthcare and aging.
Did You Know? Statistics Sweden uses a geographic division called RegSO to compare 3,363 distinct residential areas across the country, making it possible to contrast turnout and demographic metrics down to the neighborhood level.
Demographic Contrasts and Voter Motivation in Vaxholm
Contrasting sharply with Hovsjö, the coastal residential area of Kullö in Vaxholm recorded the highest voter turnout in the country in 2022 at 96.8 percent, according to official data. Kullö features an eco-district of 250 wooden villas built in the early 2000s near nature reserves and the sea, where the average monthly net income sits just under strax under 45 000 kronor efter skatt.
Residents on Kullö express strong confidence in societal influence and democratic participation. Johan Lindeberg views election day as a celebration, while Kira Odhe attributes the high participation to a local belief in the power to effect change. Meanwhile, in Hovsjö, residents like preschool teacher Kristina Johansson—who always votes despite neighborhood shootings—and football player Christian Moses, who votes to express gratitude to Sweden, illustrate individual perspectives within an area of exceptionally low civic participation.
Expert Insight: According to Henrik Ekengren Oscarsson, professor of political science with specialization in electoral research, voter turnout functions largely as a social behavior heavily influenced by education level, income, and local peer habits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did voter turnout drop in Sweden in 2022?
Turnout fell for the first time in 20 years during the 2022 election, with the steepest declines concentrated in low-income areas with high shares of rental housing and foreign backgrounds.
What was the voter turnout in Hovsjö compared to Kullö?
In Hovsjö, voter turnout was 48.2 percent in 2022, marking the lowest in the country. In Kullö, turnout reached 96.8 percent, which was the highest nationwide.
What factors influence whether people vote, according to researchers?
Researchers point to education level, income, and social circles as key drivers, noting that individuals with higher education and income often move away from vulnerable areas and vote at higher rates.
How will local and national political parties effectively engage voters in neighborhoods experiencing the country’s lowest turnout rates before the upcoming election?
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