The general election to the Swedish Riksdag, municipal assemblies and county council assemblies will be held on September, 19, 2010. If you live in the San Diego area, you may vote by mail, or cast an advance vote at the Consulate of Sweden in San Diego.

To vote by mail, you need specific documents that can be ordered or picked up from the Consulate or directly from the Election Authority in Sweden. Keep in mind that your vote at the earliest can be mailed on August 5, must be in Sweden by September 20, and has to be mailed from abroad.
To cast an advance vote at the Swedish Consulate, bring a valid identity document, such as a Swedish or American passport or driver’s license. If possible, please also bring your voting card to facilitate the processing of the votes.

If you wish to cast a vote for a specific candidate, you must also personally obtain and bring ballot papers that show the candidate’s name. The ballot papers can be ordered from the respective parties.

The Consulate of Sweden in San Diego will be open to voters on the following dates:

Thursday, August 26, 9 am – 3 pm
Friday, August 27, 9 am – 3 pm
Monday, August 30, 9 am – 3 pm
Tuesday, August 31, 9 am – 3 pm
Wednesday, September 1, 9 am – 3 pm
Thursday, September 2, 9 am – 3 pm
Friday, September 3, 9 am – 3 pm
Saturday, September 4, 10 am – 12 noon
Tuesday, September 7, 9 am- 3 pm
Wednesday, September 8, 9 am – 3 pm
Thursday, September 9, 9 am – 3 pm
Friday, September 10, 9 am – 3 pm

Further information: www.val.se

During the fall of 2010, the Embassy in Washington will conduct a mobile photo station which will enable Swedish citizens to apply for regular passports at a number of Swedish Honorary Consulates. The mobile photo station will be visiting the Swedish Church in San Pedro October 18-19, and the Consulate of Sweden in San Diego October 21-22.

Appointments are made through the Consulate of Sweden in San Diego. Phone: 858-271-1573.

At a ceremony in the residence of Jonas Hafström, the Ambassador of Sweden in Washington, DC, on January 26, 2010, Dr. Ulf Brynjestad was awarded the Officer First Class of the Royal Order of the Polar Star.

In this way, the country of Sweden showed Dr. Brynjestad appreciation for his years of work promoting Swedish ideas, culture and technology.

Dr. Brynjestad served as commercial liaison officer for technology and trade at the Swedish Consulate in San Diego, California from 1986 to 2002. On October 1, 2002 he was appointed Consul for Sweden in San Diego and served until his retirement in December 2008.

In 1992, His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden bestowed upon him the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of the Polar Star.