Popular initiative

Municipalities can, according to the Municipal Law (Kommunallag (2017:725)) allow popular initiatives (medborgarförslag) to the municipal council. If allowed, a popular initative can be submitted by anyone who lives in the municipality. A qualified majority of the assembly members may reject a popular initiative. An advisory local government referendum must be held if requested by 10% of eligible voters. It is the assembly that decides on the design of ballot papers, and the referendum is always advisory.

The Government has initiated campaigns to introduce the popular initiative to young people. The main campaign tool is the website medborgarforslag.nu, developed by the Swedish Association of Youth Councils (Sveriges ungdomsråd), launched in December 2015 and still up and running. The website contains information on:

• the popular initiative – how does it work and why it is an important tool for influence
• municipalities that allow the popular initiative
• inspiring examples of how municipalities can work with popular initiatives submitted by young people
• alternative ways to influence – what other ways are there for young people to influence their community?
• young people's democratic rights.

Legal frameworks promoting E-participation

There are no legal frameworks or key policy programmes, projects or initiatives enabling or encouraging young people to participate in political processes electronically in Sweden.

The youth-targeted campaign to increase the use of popular initiative, presented here, is an exception.