The first Sami parliamentary election took place in 1993 and then the turnout was 72 percent, but the number of eligible voters was then just over half of what it is today.
"Significantly better this year"
But in recent years, interest in the election has decreased and turnout in 2013 was only 54 percent, but now it seems to have changed - despite the pandemic.
According to the county administrative board, 6,204 people out of 9,226 in the electoral roll voted and that corresponds to 67 percent.
It is the second best turnout ever.
- The number of postal votes has begun to decline now.
On Wednesday, 122 votes were cast, but they can continue to arrive until Monday morning when we begin the official bill to obtain valid and invalid votes and an election result.
But based on the votes that have come in, it indicates that there will be a significantly better turnout this year, says Hanna Mörtberg who works with the Sami Parliamentary election at the county administrative board.
"Absolutely positive"
Elina Nygård, chairman of Jokkmokk's polling station, is very pleased with the increasing turnout.
- It is absolutely positive that more people exercise their right to vote and get involved in the Sami issues in the Sami Parliament, that is what democracy is all about.
The more people who vote, the better, she says.
Jokkmokk's polling station was once again most popular to vote in, followed by Kiruna, Umeå, Stockholm and Luleå.
- Yes, it was fun. I did not know that there was an internal struggle between the polling stations, but it is fun that people come and vote all the time. This election was so different because of the pandemic. It was fast in, voting and fast out to the disappointment of many, says Elina Nygård.