If no candidate lists are to be submitted, a so-called unrestricted election is held. All voters in the municipality in question have candidacy (except those who are legally exempt from the obligation to serve and have in advance abstained.)

How is a vote cast in an unrestricted election?

Early voting

A ballot paper in early voting is blank.

• On the ballot paper, the voter writes the full names and addresses of those they wish to vote for as full members in the municipality, up to the number of seats in the municipality council.

  • Below the names of the full members, the voter writes the full names and addresses of those they wish to vote for as deputy members in the municipality in the order in which the voter chooses them to take their seats, up to the number of seats in the municipality council.

Vote cast on election day

The ballot paper is blank.

• The voter writes the full names and addresses of those they wish to vote for as full members in the municipality on the part of the ballot paper intended for the election of full members, up to the number of seats in the municipality council.

  • On the part of the ballot paper intended for the election of deputy members, the voter writes the names of the alternate members and their addresses in the order in which the voter chooses them to take their seats, up to the number of seats in the municipality council.

Decide beforehand

It is desirable that the voter has decided how they intend to vote before arriving at the polling station, whether it is early voting or on election day, so that they can write the correct names and addresses of the full and deputy members for whom they intend to vote.

Voters may write such information on a piece of paper to remember and have it with them in the polling booth while voting.

Validity of votes

Various things can cause a vote to be considered invalid, such as if the ballot is identifiable in some way.

• In unrestricted elections, a vote shall not be considered invalid even if the first name, last name or address of the member being voted for is omitted if it is still clear whom is being referred to.

• Votes have been considered valid even if only the full members being voted for are specified, with a minimum of at least one full member.

• Votes have been considered invalid if only deputy members are specified and also if more full members are specified than there are seats on the municipality council to be voted for.

• A vote shall not be considered invalid solely for the reason that the maximum number of full or deputy members is not specified. The election board must therefore generally consider a vote valid even if, for example, only the names of four full members are specified, as long as there are no other reasons that could lead to invalidation.