Fredrick Federley counted votes – is simultaneously an election candidate

Centre Party member Fredrick Federley worked as an election official on election day in Gagnef and later participated in counting votes. This was despite the Election Authority recommending that candidates should not handle votes in the election in which they themselves are running.

Fredrick Federley, former Member of Parliament and MEP for the Centre Party, made a political comeback ahead of this year’s election. He was third on the Centre Party’s list for the regional election.

On election day, Federley also worked as a polling station official in one of Gagnef municipality’s polling stations. During the night, he also participated in the vote counting process.

There is no explicit legal prohibition against candidates working as election officials or vote counters. However, the Election Authority has clear recommendations on the issue. The Authority recommends that individuals who are standing as candidates for a party do not work as election officials or count and handle votes in the election in which they themselves are running.

The Election Authority’s press secretary, Jany Plevnik, wrote to Dala-Demokraten that the Authority has stated that candidates should not have such assignments in the election to which their candidacy applies. As this is a recommendation and not a legal requirement, it is the responsibility of the municipal election committee to decide its own recruitment policies.

Defended by the Centre Party chair

In Gagnef, the chair of the election committee, Birgitta Floresjö (C), defends the decision. She refers primarily to the size of the municipality and the difficulty of finding people without connections to candidates or parties.

– We live in a small municipality. It is very difficult to find people who have no connection to anyone on the lists, says Birgitta Floresjö to the newspaper.

According to Floresjö, there was also a practical reason behind the decision. The municipality needs to ensure that polling stations are staffed by people with experience of the work.

In addition to Federley, Ari Vähäjylkkä also worked as an election official and vote counter. He was number 13 out of 15 on the Christian Democrats’ list for the municipal council.

– I have not noticed anyone reacting to it. As deputy chair, you spend very little time in the actual polling station, says Fredrick Federley to Falu-Kuriren.

Federley during the election campaign. Photo: Facebook

Did not count votes for their own parties

According to Floresjö, the decision was preceded by dialogue with the county administrative board and had broad support within the election committee. She states that it was not an emergency solution due to staff shortages, but rather about employing people who already had experience of election work.

At the same time, the chair of the election committee understands that it may be perceived as sensitive when people who are themselves candidates participate in receiving and counting votes. She adds that the candidates in question should not have counted votes for their own parties.

Common occurrence

Floresjö also notes that the issue has received more attention lately. She describes how it used to be common for people who themselves were candidates to also work in polling stations.

The municipality may now review how polling stations will be staffed in the future. After this year’s election, several new people have gained experience with the work, which according to Floresjö may give the municipality more options in future elections.