Experts debate legality of pre-marked ballots amid Borlänge election controversy

A controversy over allegedly altered V-ballots in Borlänge has highlighted ambiguities in Swedish election law regarding pre-crossed voting papers. Joakim Nergelius, who studies constitutional law at Örebro universitet, initially assumed the practice was prohibited, yet he has heard of cases where county administrative boards and other agencies accepted such ballots. He draws a distinction between hand-marked and machine-marked ballots and argues that allowing pre-crossed papers undermines the principle of voter choice.

While paying voters is clearly illegal, transporting them to polling stations is not, and more extreme coercion is prohibited. The offence under investigation in Dalarna carries a maximum sentence of six months' imprisonment, which Nergelius says should not be dismissed as minor given its impact on democratic integrity.