In Elections

Finnish parliamentary elections

Parliamentary elections in Finland are held every fourth year, when 200 representatives are elected to Parliament to decide matters that affect us all. The parliamentary election in 2011 will be held on Sunday 17 April 2011.

Role of the parliament

Parliament's most important role is to pass legislation according to which society works. Another important role is to decide the state budget, which outlines the state's revenue and expenditure for the following year. Parliament is also tasked with overseeing the state's finance management.

Parliament also elects the prime minister of the country's government and oversees the government's activities. In addition, Parliament decides Finland's position in many European Union matters.

Who may vote?

All Finnish citizens who have turned 18 years by 17 April 2011 are allowed to vote in the parliamentary elections. If you are entitled to vote in the parliamentary election, you will be sent a poll card by post. The poll card contains your name, the date of the election and the dates for advance voting. The card also tells you at which polling station you may vote on the day of the election.

Who can you vote for?

Finland is divided into 15 constituencies and each constituency has its own candidates. You may only vote for a person who is a candidate in your own constituency. Your constituency is given on the poll card.

You can find out information about candidates from newspapers, television or the internet, for example. You can also read the candidates' and parties' election advertisements, which are in the media and often on billboards along streets and roads. You might also get election advertisements sent to your home in the post. You can find Christian Democratic candidates here (click the right part of the Finnish map).

Each candidate has his or her own number. You can find the numbers of candidates in your constituency at polling stations, among other places. The numbers are usually also visible in candidates' election advertisements.

Election day

Election Day is Sunday 17 April 2011. Polling stations are open between 9am and 8pm. On Election Day, you can only vote at the polling station mentioned on your poll card.

Voting in advance

If you do not want to vote on Election Day, you can vote in advance. You can vote in advance in any municipality. Advance polling stations include, for example, municipal offices and post offices. Advance voting begins on 6 April and ends on 12 April 2011.

Further information: http://www.om.fi/