County and municipal elections are approaching – keep these things in mind
For the first time, both county and municipal elections will be held simultaneously in April. This article provides information on how to vote in advance and on election day. You may vote in the county and municipal elections even if you do not have a Finnish citizenship.
Voting in both elections
You can vote in both elections at the same time. In the regional elections, you will use a purple ballot, while in the municipal elections, you will use a white ballot.
In these elections, a person is able to vote if they are 18 or over on the election day, have had a registered municipality of residence in Finland on the 51st day (21 February 2025) before the election, and for non-EU citizens (excluding Norwar and Iceland, who are considered as), had had a municipality of residence for an underrupted period of two years.
The combined candidate lists for both elections will be available in the voting booth. Candidate numbers for municipal elections start from 2, while regional election candidates’ numbers start from 2002. To vote, you will need an official photo ID, such as a driver’s license, passport, or identity card.
Allow enough time
Since you will be voting in two elections at once, the process may take longer than usual. To avoid potential queues, it is advisable to vote at times other than the first or last day of advance voting or at less busy polling stations. The busiest polling stations are usually those located in large supermarkets.
To make voting easier, it is also recommended to familiarize yourself with the candidates in advance.
New polling stations
In addition to the previous advance voting locations, you can also vote in advance at Pori University Consortium on Thursday, April 3, and at the Yyteri Visitor Center on Sunday, April 6. Furthermore, the advance voting location in Reposaari will return to Reposaari Library, as the renovation of the wooden block has now been finished.
On election day, there have been changes to some polling stations. In voting district 018 (Mäntyluoto and Kaanaa), the polling station will be the Yyteri Visitor Center. In voting district 019 (Reposaari), the polling station will be Reposaari Library, the same as for advance voting.
The videos below provide more details on how to proceed at a polling station during advance voting and on election day.