Non-U.S. Citizens Vote in U.S. Election

Swedes vote in U.S. Election

October 23, 2004

Malmö, Sweden

Recently Swedish citizens have, for the first time in their history, been able to participate in an American Presidential election. Through U.S. citizens living in Sweden they are participating in a grassroots electoral campaign in which they choose which party they would like to see win the 2004 U.S. Presidential election. These U.S. citizens, who call themselves "Representatives of the Interim Government of the Republic of Un-America (RIGRUA)", have volunteered to give away their personal votes to non-U.S. citizens. The Americans involved with the RIGRUA have arranged voting booths in public squares in Lund and Malmö during the month of October. There will be a vote count on October, 24th, 2004. When the final vote is tallied and the Swedes (and others who happen to be in Sweden now) have made their voices heard, the Americans in the RIGRUA will fill in their own U.S. ballots accordingly. In this way, people in Sweden are able to decide how this group of Americans in Sweden will vote when they send in their absentee ballot on October 25th, 2004.

The public voting booths were popular events. Many people, including European tourists, Romani, and immigrants from Africa, Middle East, and Latin America, participated. Quite a few were very appreciative of the chance to be able to help affect the U.S. election. Many did not want to see George W. Bush re-elected. The victory is not necessarily granted to Kerry however. As opposed to traditional U.S. ballots, which are guaranteed of having only the Democratic and Republican Party nominations, these ballots used by the RIGRUA include the political spectrum from left to right to green (with opportunity for write-in). As Sweden is dominated by the Social Democrats it is possible that the vote will go to the U.S. counterpart for the Swedish Social Democrats.

Contact: unamerica [at] lycos.com
Homepage: http://www.amerikaos.com/unamerica