Public access to documents & public voting and counting processes - Sweden 12th EMB Meeting, Brussels March nd Plenary session – functioning of EMBs By Kristina Lemon

Public access – a key feature towards transparency 1.Public access to official documents 2. Public voting and counting processes

1. Public access to official documents - Constitutional provision - Applicable to the entire public sector Purpose: to have transparency in public decision-making and how the public sector conduct their duties

What is an official document? -Errands: decisions, pm:s, reports, policy documents, agreements, procurement etc. - Registers – surrounded by strict frameworks - conversations -Correspondence to and from the public sector

Limitations -Errands concerning the security of the Realm -Central fiscal errands -Protection or personal circumstances of private subjects

How does this apply to the election administration? -Electoral roll -Candidate registers -Decisions on party denominations -General scrutiny of errands Used by media, general people, parties, researchers

2. Public voting and counting processes -Access guaranteed by law -Therefore – no permission needed for observers Limitation: access only under the condition that the processes are not disturbed.

What does this access mean for election stakeholders? -The administration: it makes us do better! -The parties: creates an open landscape for fair competition -The voters: creates good opportunities to follow - and judge - decision-makers Provides the possibility to increased knowlede of the electoral process

Outlook towards the future -Transparency and access become increasingly inresting also for the general public -Access to registers raises questions on personal integrity -Increased multinational decisionmaking creating challenges

Thank you for your attention!