In 2018, the turnout in Haparanda for the parliamentary election was 72.8 percent compared to the country where the figure was 87.2 percent.
But ahead of the election this autumn, the municipality has now set its sights on a much more increased and equal turnout than the result in the last election.
- The cocky goal is to get above the national average and this time we do not turn to everyone as we have done before, but now we focus on the groups we have seen the least of in the polls, says Joakim Jakobsson, municipal secretary in Haparanda.
Bet before - now it will be different
You have made efforts to increase turnout in the past, why do you have to take action again?
- We do not change a behavior overnight.
It is important to constantly remind ourselves of our democratic freedoms and rights.
And we have also seen that when we made efforts before the last election in 2018, we had one of the largest increases in the country, even though we landed on a very long turnout.
Swedish Haparanda and Finnish Tornio are close neighbors and are seen by many as one and the same city.
Many families also live and work in both Sweden and Finland.
They are most difficult to flirt with
Who are the most difficult to flirt with in the polling stations in Haparanda?
- It is mainly those with a Finnish background and other foreign backgrounds who do not go to the polls.
It may have to do with language confusion and whether one is familiar with the Swedish democratic system.
For example, many of our Finnish citizens live a fully democratic life, but then directed towards Finnish politics, he says.
In the video, the municipal secretary lists why he thinks this can succeed.