1940 Swedish general election

General elections were held in Sweden on 15 September 1940.^[1] The Swedish Social Democratic Party remained the largest party, winning 134 of the 230 seats in the Andra kammaren of the Riksdag.^[2] It is one of two general elections in Swedish history where a single party received more than half of the vote (the other occasion being 1968).

1940 Swedish general election

← 1936 15 September 1940 1944 →
All 230 seats in the Andra kammaren of the Riksdag 116 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Per Albin Hansson Gösta Bagge Axel Pehrsson-Bramstorp Party Social Democrats Right Farmers' League Last election 112 44 36 Seats won 134 42 28 Seat change 22 2 8 Popular vote 1,546,804 518,346 344,345 Percentage 53.81% 18.03% 11.98%   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Gustaf Andersson Sven Linderot Party People's Party Communist Last election 27 5 Seats won 23 3 Seat change 4 2 Popular vote 344,113 101,424 Percentage 11.97% 3.53%
Largest bloc and seats won by constituency
Prime Minister before election Per Albin Hansson Social Democrats Elected Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson Social Democrats

The election took place amid World War II, with neighbouring Denmark and Norway occupied by the Nazis. The major parties were all represented in the government cabinet. Some of the parties called for a postponement of the elections due to the war. However, Per Albin Hansson said that democratic processes ought to be respected. Ben Arneson characterized the election as a "gentleman's election" free of mudslinging.^[3]

Results

Main article: Results of the 1940 Swedish general election

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Swedish Social Democratic Party	1,546,804	53.81	134	+22
	National Organisation of the Right	518,346	18.03	42	–2
	Farmers' League	344,345	11.98	28	–8
	People's Party	344,113	11.97	23	–4
	Communist Party	101,424	3.53	3	–2
	Socialist Party	18,430	0.64	0	–6
	Left Socialist Party	898	0.03	0	New
	Other parties	57	0.00	0	0
Total		2,874,417	100.00	230	0
Valid votes		2,874,417	99.49
Invalid/blank votes		14,720	0.51
Total votes		2,889,137	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		4,110,720	70.28
Source: Nohlen & Stöver, SCB