First-time voters turn to AI to navigate Swedish election politics

First-time voters in Sweden are increasingly using AI chatbots to understand political parties’ positions ahead of the 2026 election, according to a report by public broadcaster SVT Nyheter and the Internet Foundation.

A quarter of young, first-time voters now use AI tools to compare parties, analyze policy proposals, and even create personalized “voting compasses” by inputting their own views, the foundation’s election survey reveals. Overall, one in ten Swedes use AI to discuss politics and societal issues.

“They want to weigh the pros and cons of different political proposals,” said Jannike Tillå of the Internet Foundation. “Some even upload their own opinions to find the party that best matches their stance—essentially building their own tailored voting guide.”

Major parties are now adjusting their online content to rank higher in AI-generated responses. The Green Party’s election coordinator, Malin Aldal, explained that their website has been rewritten to use “semantic triples”—simple, direct sentences with a clear subject, verb, and object—to improve AI comprehension.

“For example: ‘The Green Party prioritizes a fair climate transition in the 2026 election,’” Aldal said.

Both the Liberals and the Sweden Democrats confirmed similar strategies. Liberal Party Secretary Fredrik Brange wrote that “clear, fact-based, and accessible language” is now critical for visibility in AI searches, while SD press chief Oskar Cavalli-Björkman stated they are “continuously optimizing” their site to ensure AI tools relay their policies “as accurately and fairly as possible.”

Experts warn, however, of risks as chatbots take on a greater role in guiding voters. Further details were discussed in SVT’s accompanying video report.