Election Day 2026 – What Kind of Society Do We Want to Leave to Our Children?

The Swedish election 2026 is approaching, and soon we will know which direction Sweden will take. I’m back home after a weekend in Lvl² filled with football, goals and popcorn – but today my thoughts are on democracy, child poverty, research and the kind of society we want to leave to our children.

🇬🇧 English – you are here
🇸🇪 Svenska – läs inlägget på svenska Valdagen 2026 – vilket samhälle vill vi lämna till barnen?

So, I’m back home again after a weekend in Lvl².

Yesterday, we went to watch Alfred and his team play two football matches.

When I asked him how it had gone, he told me they had won.

They scored nine goals in the first match and ten in the second.

How many goals did the other teams score?

He didn’t really know.

I think that’s a rather wonderful strategy. He keeps track of how many goals his own team scores and is happy with that. They actually did win both matches, but by how much didn’t seem particularly important to him.

Quite a nice way of looking at things, really.

I think we were in Myckleby, and the sports club had organised everything really well. There were burgers grilled over charcoal, hot dogs as usual, and Orust Sparbank was handing out freshly popped popcorn.

And that popcorn was more than good.

Have you voted?

We haven’t voted yet.

We like to make a little occasion of it and vote on Election Day itself. In the evening, we’re also going to an election night gathering here in the village.

It’s going to be exciting.

But I’m worried too.

Really worried.

I’m afraid Sweden will move in a direction I don’t want it to go. I worry about the Sweden Democrats gaining even greater influence and what that could mean for democracy, public service broadcasting and people who are already living on very small margins.

I don’t want a society where people have to stand with their cap in hand when they need help.

What Do the Numbers Really Tell Us?

I’ve also been thinking a lot about child poverty.

I recently heard about changes that are coming to income support. From 2027, income support will be limited for households with more than three children living at home.

At the same time, I’ve been reading about how different ways of measuring children’s economic vulnerability can produce different pictures.

And that makes me stop and think when someone says:

Child poverty has decreased.

Perhaps it has, according to a particular measure.

But what are we measuring? How are we measuring it? And what does life actually look like for the children behind those numbers?

Those are questions I think matter.

Research and Politics

Yesterday, I also listened to Amanda Lind.

What I appreciated was that I felt she talked about her own policies and explained why she believes in them. She also kept coming back to research and evidence.

That appeals to me.

For me, it isn’t enough for a politician to say:

I’ve read the statistics.

I want to know which statistics. What do they show? What don’t they show?

Research, of course, cannot decide what kind of politics we should have. Politics is also about values and the kind of society we want to build.

But research can help us understand the consequences different political decisions may have.

Then politicians have to take responsibility for the choices they make.

Soon Election Day 2026 Will Be Over

Soon we will know how Sweden will be governed for the coming years.

I know what I hope for.

You reading this may hope for something completely different.

That, too, is democracy.

But I hope we continue to ask questions, scrutinise and try to understand even after all the votes have been counted.

Because politics doesn’t disappear when election night is over.

It is there in our schools, in our wallets, in healthcare and around ordinary people’s kitchen tables.

And perhaps on a football pitch too.

Because yesterday I stood there watching children chase a ball, score goals and eat popcorn.

Our political choices will, after all, help shape the future those children will grow up in.

Between the Lines

Yesterday, Alfred was counting his own team’s goals.

Today, I’m sitting here thinking about much more difficult numbers.

Perhaps there’s something I can learn from him anyway.

Not to ignore the other team.

But to remember what I myself want to achieve.

What kind of society do I want to help build?

That is the question I’m taking with me to the polling station.

A Few Questions for You

Do you usually vote on Election Day itself, or have you already voted?

What matters most to you when you decide which party gets your vote?

How do you think about research and statistics in politics – is hearing a number enough, or do you also want to know what lies behind it?

And perhaps the biggest question:

What kind of society do you hope today’s children will grow up in?

You May Also Like

I Read the Sweden Democrats’ Election Material – Now I Want to See the Numbers – my questions after reading the Sweden Democrats’ own election material.

When We Disagree – But Can Still Talk to Each Other – about politics, different opinions and still being able to meet each other in conversation.

I Needed to Listen Before I Could Know What I Was Saying No To – about why I wanted to listen for myself before deciding what I thought.

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Malix / Carina Ikonen Nilsson