The leader of Sweden's far-right Sweden Democrats, Jimmie Akesson, cast his ballot on Saturday (September 12), a day ahead of a closely contested general election that could see his party enter government for the first time.

Akesson voted in the ethnically diverse Stockholm area of Rinkeby.

The election is tight and has effectively become a referendum on whether the Sweden Democrats should join the government.

The party, with roots in the neo-Nazi fringe, has around 19% of the vote, according to the latest polls, and the ruling centre-right minority coalition has vowed to bring them into its bloc to secure Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson a second term in office.

Despite a consensus over tight immigration policies, many Swedes still feel a deep unease about the far right and polls point to a knife-edge vote with the centre-left opposition, which is backing Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson for prime minister, holding a small but narrowing lead.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (SEPTEMBER 12, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. LEADER OF THE FAR-RIGHT SWEDEN DEMOCRATS, JIMMIE AKESSON, ARRIVING AT POLLING STATION

2. AKESSON STANDING IN LINE TO VOTE

3. WOMAN FILMING AKESSON

4. AKESSON ENTERING ROOM

5. VARIOUS OF AKESSON VOTING

6. TEXT ON BOOTH READING (Swedish): “Ballot papers – one voter at the time please”

7. VARIOUS OF AKESSON LICKING THE ENVELOPE

8. VARIOUS OF AKESSON REGISTERING HIS VOTE

9. AKESSON LEAVING

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) LEADER OF THE SWEDEN DEMOCRATS, JIMMIE AKESSON, TALKING TO SUPPORTERS, SAYING:

“I think the response was pretty good. One must not do election campaigning in the queue to the polling station, after all, but there were still plenty of cheers and such.”

11. VARIOUS OF AKESSON WALKING TO ELECTION CAMPAIGN BUS

12. AKESSON TAKING SELFIES WITH PEOPLE COMING UP TO HIM AS HE WALKS

13. AKESSON GETTING ON BUS

14. VARIOUS OF BUS DRIVING AWAY