Six months to go until the church elections – 14,000 seats to be filled

The 2025 church elections will take place between 8 and 21 September. All members of the Church of Sweden aged 16 or over are entitled to vote in the elections. 

The church elections are on 21 September. All members of the Church of Sweden aged 16 and over can then choose who will represent them for the next four years. More than 14,000 seats will be filled in the Parish Assembly (parish or group of parishes), Diocesan Council and General Synod (national).

First elections with a percentage threshold

A new feature of the elections this year is a percentage threshold in the elections to the General Synod. This means that only nominating groups that receive at least two percent of the total number of votes nationwide can be allocated seats in the General Synod.

Vote wherever you are

People who are travelling, working or studying elsewhere can vote in advance anywhere in Sweden throughout the election period, from 8 to 21 September. The Church of Sweden’s website will list all the early voting centres and provide information on how to vote.

Time to register a group

Those wishing to register a nominating group can still do so. The relevant diocesan office must have received the registration details by 15 April.

Brief facts about the church elections 

Entitlement to vote: All members of the Church of Sweden aged 16 or over are entitled to vote in the elections.
Date: The 2025 church elections will take place between 8 and 21 September.
Number of members: The Church of Sweden has around 5.5 million members.
Three elections: The church elections encompass three different elections: to the Parish Assembly, the Diocesan Council and the General Synod.
Percentage threshold: To win a seat in the General Synod, a nominating group must receive at least two percent of the votes.

Church elections 2021

Number of voters: 900,753 (18.4%)
Number of nomination groups: 602
Number of candidates: 27,000