Sample questions: Elections and political parties
The right to vote, the electoral system, referendums, parties and the four per cent threshold.
Elections to the Riksdag, regional councils and municipal councils are held every four years; elections to the European Parliament every five years. To vote you must have turned 18. Swedish citizenship is required for the Riksdag election; for municipal and regional elections it is enough to have been registered as resident in Sweden for a total of three years, and EU or Nordic citizens only need to be registered. Referendums are advisory — in 2003 Sweden voted no to the euro. Voting cards are sent home and voting is secret; everyone votes behind a screen. Sweden has proportional elections: parties get seats in proportion to their share of the vote. A party must receive at least four per cent of the votes to enter the Riksdag.
The questions below are written by Medborgarklar for practice. They are not taken from a real test, they are not published by UHR, and we do not claim they have appeared in a sitting.
8 questions with answers and explanations
How often are elections to the Riksdag held in Sweden?
- AEvery five years
- BEvery four years
- CEvery three years
- DEvery year
Correct answer: B. Every four years
Why: Elections to the Riksdag, regional councils and municipal councils are held every four years. Elections to the European Parliament are held every five years.
What can someone who wants to influence the content of politics do, according to the study material?
- AAppeal the Riksdag's decisions to the court of appeal
- BBecome a member of a political party or start a new one together with others
- CDemand a binding referendum
- DAppoint themselves a member of the Riksdag
Correct answer: B. Become a member of a political party or start a new one together with others
Why: Anyone who wishes can become a member of a political party in order to influence the content of politics. It is also possible to start a new party together with others.
How old must you be to vote in Sweden?
- A16 years
- B18 years
- C21 years
- D20 years
Correct answer: B. 18 years
Why: To be entitled to vote you must have turned 18. This applies in all Swedish elections.
What is required to vote in the Riksdag election?
- APaying tax in Sweden
- BSwedish citizenship and being at least 18
- CHaving lived in Sweden for three years
- DBeing an EU citizen
Correct answer: B. Swedish citizenship and being at least 18
Why: To vote in the Riksdag election you must have turned 18 and be a Swedish citizen.
What is required for a person who is not a Swedish citizen to vote in the municipal election?
- AHaving been registered as resident in Sweden for a total of three years
- BApplying to the Migration Agency first
- CHaving a permanent job
- DHaving lived in Sweden for ten years
Correct answer: A. Having been registered as resident in Sweden for a total of three years
Why: To vote in municipal and regional elections you do not need to be a Swedish citizen, but you must have lived and been registered in Sweden for a total of three years. EU and Nordic citizens only need to be registered.
How often are elections to the European Parliament held?
- AEvery five years
- BEvery four years
- CEvery three years
- DEvery year
Correct answer: A. Every five years
Why: Elections to the Riksdag, regional and municipal councils are held every four years, while European Parliament elections are held every five years.
What percentage of the votes must a party get to enter the Riksdag?
- AAt least one per cent
- BAt least fifteen per cent
- CAt least ten per cent
- DAt least four per cent
Correct answer: D. At least four per cent
Why: To enter the Riksdag a party must get at least four per cent of the votes. The rule exists so that not too many parties enter, which would make stable majorities harder to build.
What do proportional elections mean?
- AParties draw lots for the seats
- BEach municipality gets the same number of seats
- CParties get seats in proportion to their share of the votes
- DThe party with most votes nationally takes all the seats
Correct answer: C. Parties get seats in proportion to their share of the votes
Why: Proportional elections mean parties get seats based on their share of the votes. A party with twenty per cent of the votes gets about twenty per cent of the seats.