Swedish voters will head to the polls on September 13th to cast their vote in three elections: local, regional and national. The results could have a huge impact on foreigners in Sweden.
Some of our readers may be Swedish citizens with the right to vote in the national elections, others may be able to vote in the local and regional elections, and some of you not at all.
But at The Local we believe that, regardless of whether or not you can vote, you have the right to be kept informed and heard in the public debate on the issues that matter to you.
Earlier this year, I asked readers in a survey to share what issues they care about the most in the election, and unsurprisingly, immigration was by far the most dominant key issue (runners-up were the cost of living, healthcare, climate, crime and security and schools).
I asked in the same survey what you're looking for when it comes to Swedish election news, and the top three answers were coverage that helps you understand Swedish politics, that keeps you up to date on political news, and that exposes you to different perspectives.
So that's what we're going to try to do. To follow The Local's election coverage, head to our dedicated election section over here. You can also download our app (available on Apple and Android) and under "notification settings", tick "politics" to get an alert on your phone every time we publish a politics story we think is worth your time. And if you're not already signed up, don't forget to sign up to our Politics in Sweden newsletter for a weekly analysis of the top political issues.
I also recommend our Sweden in Focus podcast, if you prefer your news and analysis to be delivered to you in audio format – and it's a chance to listen to our writers, for a change. You can also watch the podcast in video format on YouTube.
And finally, if you're not already a member, now is the time to join us.
The Local's paying members help us sustain and develop our journalism so that we can continue to be the best news source and champion for foreign residents in Sweden. Members also get unlimited reading, special weekly editions of Sweden in Focus, and exclusive newsletters, including Politics in Sweden, straight to their inboxes every week.
There's never been a better time to be a member of The Local. Our reader-focused coverage of Sweden's citizenship reforms has already led to the political news story of the year in this country – the impact of which will continue to be felt as the election draws nearer.
Because we're not just covering the Swedish election – we're covering it for you. We're doing that by answering your questions, addressing your concerns, sharing your stories, and giving you the reporting that matters to foreign professionals in Sweden. And we welcome your input.
Too often are decisions made about foreign residents without including them, informing them, or even giving them the chance to make their views known. Let's change that, together, and set the standard in the Swedish media world for election coverage that puts readers first.