ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the Swedish case to determine whether the serious defects are remedied when voting rights are extended to migrants. It summarizes the results as follows: several factors helped to create a turnout of 60 percent in 1976. It was based on political interest among the immigrants, and membership in trade unions also helped. Millions of people have lost their political rights and representation. The initiative originated with politicians who were interested in immigrants and immigration policy. The decision to give immigrants in Sweden the vote in local and regional elections was made relatively quickly. The majority’s recommendation asserted a new basic principle: that the place of a person’s residence, rather than his or her citizenship, should determine voting rights. Most immigrants had been in the parties too short a time to be considered for candidacy or had no previous experience in party work. The number of immigrant party members has also increased.
