So I went early to vote yesterday morning, I was there as soon as they opened up and I still had to stand in line. Not more than five minutes but it did feel odd. I was lucky, later in the day some people had to stand in line for hours.
I don’t know how things work in other countries when it comes to the ballots but here each party has their own ballot. If one is a Swedish citizen we can vote for three different things, the parliament, the region (which takes care of the health care system) and the county. So one need one ballot for each one. Up until last year they had all the ballots on a place where everyone actually could see what one chose, not a great thing to be honest but most of us just took a bunch of ballots from different parties when we went to the screen where we put the ballots in special envelopes.
Now they decided that the ballots would be in a place where no one could see what one picked, no problems with that really but I and most other people then believed that there would be several places where they had the ballots. How wrong we were and since lots of people hadn’t decided what party/ parties they would vote for until they reached that place it took a lot! of time for people to vote. I don’t know who the idiot is who didn’t think of that, especially since they had been warned that this most likely would happen but who ever it was should never be allowed to be in charge of anything ever again. The lines were so long in some places that people just gave up and walked home without voting.
Anyway, the results? Well we have eight parties in the parliament and they are divided in to two groups. One is center left parties and the other one is right and fascist. It is at the moment so close that we won’t know for sure until Wednesday evening/ Thursday morning until we actually know which one of them won. Unfortunately it leans towards the right-fascist side. They will have huge problems making it work though because the least right wing party refuses to have anything to do with the government if the fascist party is in it. Then again the fascists won’t be happy if the least right wing party is a part of the government either, especially since they are the biggest party in that group (just above 20%).
To be honest the other group, if things would change when all votes are counted, will not have an easier time to create a government either, they have more or less the same problems in their group π π π It is a bit scary that people who behaves like toddlers in in the defiance age will actually lead this country. I have some kind of stomach flu today so I’m at home and have spent the day in front of the tv watching the two big channels discussing what will happen now and that’s just stupid since we actually don’t know who won! At the moment the right leads with 46000 votes and I think they still have several hundred thousand votes to count. Anything can happen.
It is time for some rose hip soup and after that I’ll most likely fall asleep in front of the tv as always π
Have a great day!
The Cottage by the crane lake. 
Hi Christer,
We have mail in ballots so we don’t even have to go to the polls. Much better than standing in line at the local high school. In the primary, you have to declare which party’s ballot you want and a poll worker gives it to you. You can’t split your ticket between parties in the Primary. All that party’s candidates for national, state, and local offices are on that ballot. In the General election, everybody from all parties and every vacant seat is on the ballot along with any referenda questions.
Your new system sounds kind of confusing. Hopefully the people in charge will review and rethink.
I hope your stomach is better soon.
Have a good night.
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Hi Caryn!
I don’t know if we can mail the ballots in here, I know they can from abroad though even though most who votes abroad goes to the embassies or consulates. Lots of places to pre vote though. They are now talking about one big ballot where all parties (and candidates) are printed on and we’ll have to use a marker on what party we vote on. No matter what way they’ll change it it will be better π
The stomach is up and down if You know what I mean π
Have a great day!
Christer.
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