Stockholm. Swedish authorities have expanded their investigation into alleged irregularities in the electoral process following the parliamentary election held on September 13. Stockholm police have launched preliminary investigations into five complaints related to possible election fraud around the capital. One of the complaints concerns voting in the Järva suburb. Police said two of the cases also involve allegations of possible vote-buying, although officials have not disclosed detailed information about the other areas or the nature of the complaints.
The new investigations come days after authorities launched a separate probe into suspected election fraud in Borlange in central Sweden. That case has reached the stage of an election review, and if Sweden’s Election Review Board decides that a new vote should be held, the outcome could potentially affect 11 parliamentary seats. However, the prosecution authority has said that no indictment has been issued in the Borlange case and no suspect has been formally identified.
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The Borlange investigation is linked to the election of Left Party candidate Mohamed Abdukardir Ali. During the election, Ali unexpectedly received a large number of personal preference votes compared with other candidates from his party. Questions were subsequently raised about possible irregularities in the voting process, prompting authorities to investigate. The Left Party said Ali would take a leave of absence while the allegations were being examined.
In the newly reported Stockholm cases, police have begun preliminary investigations following five complaints. Apart from the case involving Järva, two complaints include allegations of potential vote-buying. Police have so far declined to provide details about the alleged activities, possible beneficiaries or the other areas involved. Investigators are currently examining the allegations and assessing whether there is evidence of criminal activity.
Swedish police also said on September 24 that they had received a total of 58 reports in 2026 involving possible improper influence connected with the electoral process. Most of the complaints concerned ballots allegedly being stolen, hidden or not being made available at polling stations. In some cases, people were also accused of attempting to influence other voters around polling stations. Police clarified that in many of these cases, it still had to be determined whether the reported activities actually constituted criminal offences.
According to police, some complaints also involved online advertisements offering to buy votes or asking people to sell their votes. However, authorities said they had not so far encountered another case similar in nature to the Borlange investigation and were continuing to monitor the complaints and developments surrounding the election process.
The final results of the September 13 election were established by Sweden’s election authority on September 19. The 349-seat parliament includes 99 seats for the Social Democratic Party, 70 for the Moderate Party, 62 for the Sweden Democrats and 30 for the Left Party. The Centre Party won 25 seats, while the Christian Democrats and Green Party each secured 22 seats. The Liberal Party won 19 seats.
It remains unclear whether any of the ongoing investigations will have an impact on the final election results. If wrongdoing is established in any of the five Stockholm cases, the authorities concerned would have to assess whether the findings could affect the relevant electoral outcomes under Sweden’s legal and electoral procedures. In the Borlange case, any decision on a possible re-run rests with the Election Review Board.
For now, all the cases remain under investigation, and no final conclusions have been reached. The allegations are being examined by the relevant authorities, while any potential impact on the election results will depend on the findings of the investigations and subsequent decisions by Sweden’s electoral authorities.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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