STOCKHOLM, Sweden, July 8, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Between August 28 and September 15, registered voters may cast absentee ballots at any of the approximately 1,450 Posten outlets in Sweden. A complete list of polling stations, addresses, and open hours can be found at Posten's Web site, www.posten.se.
Posten has handled absentee voting since 1942. During the three most recent elections, absentee votes accounted for about one-third of the votes cast.
"At Posten, we consider handling absentee voting to be a point of pride," said Inger Holmstrom, Head of Information at Posten.
An orange hand symbol demarcates registered voting stations, and helps guide voters to the polls. Registered voters are free to choose any location, regardless of their place of residence.
In communities where the new Posten organization has been instituted, this year's absentee ballots will be cast at Postal Centers, Swedish Cashier Service's outlets, as well as a majority of Posten's partners offering cashier service. In some communities, absentee ballots may also be cast at addditional venues, such as the library.
In communities where the new Posten organization has not yet been instituted, absentee votes will be cast in post offices as well as in- store postal outlets.
"In addition, voters may cast their ballots with any of our 2,700 rural carriers, all of whom are qualified polling agents," added Inger Holmstrom.
About 850 of the postal polling stations are extending their business hours on Saturday, September 14.
Please direct any questions
Posten Press Service, press@posten.se, telephone +46 (0)8 - 23 10 10
Posten brings people together by delivering correspondence and merchandise rapidly, securely and cost-effectively. We create added value by combining traditional postal services with electronic Posten solutions, which can be integrated into our customers' businesses. Put simply, we are experts at everything between "From and To". With over 3,000 postal retail outlets, we serve some 4.1 million households, 500,000 businesses, and handle close to 20 million pieces of mail daily. With turnover of approximately SEK 22 billion and roughly 45,000 employees, the Group is one of the largest in Sweden. The Group's parent company, Posten AB (publ), is wholly owned by the Swedish state. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.posten.se.
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