In the lead-up to Sweden’s election on September 13, 2026, some IKEA stores abroad became temporary voting locations for Swedish expatriates. The Swedish Election Authority increased the number of overseas voting locations from around 266 in 2022 to approximately 290 worldwide. In some countries, this meant setting up temporary polling stations at IKEA stores, including in cities like Brisbane, Adelaide, Auckland, and Hyderabad, India. The decision to use IKEA locations is practical as well as symbolic. These stores are often centrally located, easy to find, and familiar to many Swedish expatriates. IKEA, which opened its first store in Älmhult, Sweden, in 1958, has long been associated with the concept of “home.” Its stores, found in over 60 countries and numbering more than 500 globally, offer Swedish names, colors, and food, such as lingonberry jam and cinnamon buns, creating a small piece of home for many living abroad. IKEA has become one of Sweden’s most influential cultural exports. The company promotes values like practicality, affordability, and simplicity—traits commonly associated with Swedish culture. These values are also part of Sweden’s national brand strategy, which highlights IKEA, the Swedish flag, ABBA, and the Nobel Prize as key symbols of the country’s international identity. This creates a kind of mutual benefit: IKEA uses Swedishness to enhance its brand, while Sweden uses IKEA’s global presence to promote its national image. During the election period, IKEA stores temporarily transformed into places where Swedish expatriates could exercise their right to vote, blending commerce with civic duty. While embassies and consulates are official government spaces, IKEA’s commercial environment offered a more informal and familiar setting for many voters. This reflects how national identity can be maintained through everyday experiences, such as familiar brands and shared rituals, rather than only through formal institutions. In addition to IKEA, other unique locations were used for voting, such as Business Sweden offices in Bangalore and Taipei, the Swedish School in London, and the American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia. These venues highlight the diverse ways in which Swedish expatriates gather, from trade offices to cultural institutions. IKEA’s role as a voting location underscores a pragmatic approach by Sweden’s electoral authorities—choosing spaces where expatriates already congregate. The use of IKEA as a polling station also highlights the alignment between the company’s core values and democratic principles. IKEA promotes “democratic design,” emphasizing accessibility and affordability in its products. Similarly, voting is based on the principle that participation should be open and accessible to all. By hosting a polling station, IKEA briefly became more than a furniture retailer—it became a place where a key democratic tradition could be exercised far from home.