IKEA to Serve as Temporary Voting Hub for Swedish Expat Voters

5:05 PM ETDeveloping

World Desk

In Short: In the run-up to Sweden's 2026 election, IKEA stores are being used as voting locations for expatriates, expanding the number of overseas voting sites from 266 to 290.

But in the lead-up to Sweden’s election on September 13, 2026, some IKEA stores have taken on an unexpected new role, according to The Independent.

The Swedish Election Authority expanded the number of overseas voting locations from around 266 in 2022 to approximately 290 worldwide, with some locations being temporary sites at IKEA stores.

At one level, using IKEA makes perfect practical sense, as IKEA is closely associated with 'home' for many Swedes, according to The Independent.

The first IKEA store opened in Älmhult, Sweden, in 1958, and the company has since expanded its reach, opening its first store outside Sweden in Norway in 1963 and reaching Australia by 1975.

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For decades, IKEA has exported not just furniture but a particular image of Sweden.

Sources

The Independentlink