| Sweden now has six nuclear power reactors in operation. A further four reactors have been completed and two are under construction. The Riksdag has decided that a referendum on the role of nuclear power in the future energy supply shall be held on March 23, 1980. The vote applies to three different proposals. | |
| Country: | Sweden |
| Yes Text: | Option 1 |
| No Text: | Option 2 |
| Othertype: | Option 3 |
| Yes: | 904,968 |
| No: | 1,869,344 |
| Other: | 1,845,911 |
| Invalid: | 3,153 |
| Electorate: | 6,321,165 |
| Map: | Swedish nuclear power referendum result by county, 1980.png |
| Map Size: | 180px |
A non-binding referendum on nuclear power was held in Sweden on 23 March 1980.[1] Three proposals were put to voters. The second option, the gradual phasing out of nuclear power, won a narrow plurality of the vote, receiving 39.1% of the ballots cast to 38.7% for option 3. Option 1 was the least popular, receiving only 18.9% of the votes.
The actual long term result of the nuclear power politics in Sweden after the referendum has been most similar to option 1 which did not change ownership of nuclear power plants. Some were fully private and other owned by the government, and this did not change much. High profits in hydroelectric generation were not excessively taxed. Although some of the nuclear power plants were decommissioned, the Swedish government decided to reverse the policy.[2]
In March 2022, due to the global energy crisis, the Swedish government invited German energy company Uniper to build a nuclear power plant in Scania.[3]
The ballot for Option 1 (Swedish: Linje 1) read:There was no text on the reverse side of the ballot.[4]
The front side of the ballot for Option 2 (Swedish: Linje 2) had almost identical wording to that of Option 1. However, on the reverse side, the following text was added:
The last point was controversial and the most important reason why the Moderate Party would not consider supporting Option 2.
The front side of the ballot for Option 3 (Swedish: Linje 3) read:
The reverse side of the ballot read:
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Option 1 | 904,968 | 18.9 |
| Option 2 | 1,869,344 | 39.1 |
| Option 3 | 1,846,911 | 38.7 |
| Blank votes | 157,103 | 3.3 |
| Invalid votes | 3,153 | – |
| Total | 4,781,479 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 6,321,165 | 75.6 |
| align=left colspan=3 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
| County | Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 | Blank vote | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
| Stockholm County | 230,045 | 25.41 | 295,837 | 32.68 | 350,942 | 38.76 | 28,503 | 3.15 | 905,327 | |
| Uppsala County | 25,219 | 18.0 | 52,642 | 37.6 | 58,051 | 41.4 | 4,273 | 3.0 | 140,185 | |
| Södermanland County | 23,946 | 16.56 | 67,192 | 46.46 | 48,110 | 33.27 | 5,367 | 3.71 | 144,615 | |
| Östergötland County | 42,343 | 18.93 | 95,022 | 42.49 | 77,278 | 34.56 | 9,011 | 4.03 | 223,654 | |
| Jönköping County | 29,717 | 17.06 | 67,137 | 38.56 | 71,314 | 40.95 | 5,984 | 3.44 | 174,152 | |
| Kronoberg County | 16,909 | 17.54 | 35,669 | 37.01 | 40,702 | 42.23 | 3,098 | 3.21 | 96,378 | |
| Kalmar County | 23,468 | 17.30 | 54,507 | 40.19 | 53,568 | 39.50 | 4,072 | 3.00 | 135,615 | |
| Gotland County | 4,161 | 13.67 | 10,474 | 34.41 | 14,843 | 48.76 | 964 | 3.17 | 30,442 | |
| Blekinge County | 15,116 | 18.12 | 41,359 | 49.59 | 24,141 | 28.94 | 2,788 | 3.34 | 83,404 | |
| Kristianstad County | 35,937 | 23.74 | 62,629 | 41.38 | 47,490 | 31.37 | 5,312 | 3.51 | 151,368 | |
| Malmöhus County | 124,584 | 28.36 | 190,651 | 43.40 | 109,310 | 24.88 | 14,745 | 3.36 | 439,290 | |
| Halland County | 24,695 | 18.70 | 45,813 | 34.69 | 56,498 | 42.78 | 5,059 | 3.83 | 132,065 | |
| Gothenburg and Bohus County | 80,584 | 19.30 | 145,791 | 34.92 | 177,136 | 42.42 | 14,034 | 3.36 | 417,545 | |
| Älvsborg County | 39,797 | 16.45 | 91,748 | 37.92 | 101,869 | 42.11 | 8,508 | 3.52 | 241,922 | |
| Skaraborg County | 24,557 | 16.13 | 52,248 | 34.32 | 70,079 | 46.03 | 5,363 | 3.52 | 152,247 | |
| Värmland County | 25,224 | 15.02 | 67,239 | 41.68 | 63,929 | 39.63 | 4,924 | 3.05 | 161,316 | |
| Örebro County | 21,975 | 13.79 | 69,127 | 43.37 | 63,162 | 39.62 | 5,136 | 3.22 | 159,400 | |
| Västmanland County | 29,375 | 20.02 | 64,666 | 44.08 | 46,922 | 31.98 | 5,738 | 3.91 | 146,701 | |
| Kopparberg County | 19,249 | 11.91 | 65,725 | 40.67 | 71,112 | 44.00 | 5,531 | 3.42 | 161,617 | |
| Gävleborg County | 17,145 | 10.32 | 69,911 | 42.08 | 74,080 | 44.59 | 5,000 | 3.01 | 166,146 | |
| Västernorrland County | 15,831 | 10.09 | 67,923 | 43.28 | 68,661 | 43.75 | 4,519 | 2.88 | 156,934 | |
| Jämtland County | 7,250 | 9.58 | 31,259 | 41.30 | 35,120 | 46.40 | 2,058 | 2.72 | 75,687 | |
| Västerbotten County | 13,734 | 9.81 | 56,827 | 40.58 | 65,938 | 47.09 | 3,527 | 2.52 | 140,026 | |
| Norrbotten County | 14,107 | 9.91 | 67,948 | 47.75 | 56,656 | 39.81 | 3,589 | 2.52 | 142,300 | |
| Total | 904,968 | 18.94 | 1,869,344 | 39.12 | 1,846,911 | 38.65 | 157,103 | 3.29 | 4,778,326 | |