Finland prepares for presidential election with early voting
In a symbol of its participation in democracy, Finland is gearing up for impending presidential elections. Finland’s Ministry of Justice, the administrative body that oversees the electoral process, announced that early voting will take place from January 17th to January 23rd. Elections, the central event in Finnish politics, are scheduled for January 28th.
Overseas early voting
The Finnish government also has provisions for overseas advance voting to allow Finnish citizens living abroad to participate in elections. The ministry has scheduled these voting sessions from January 17th to January 20th, depending on the specific location.
Advance voting station
Finland will set up a total of 955 general advance voting stations across the country to ensure a smooth election. In addition, 220 stations will be installed in 89 countries overseas, allowing all voters to exercise their right to vote, regardless of their geographic location.
Emergency to the second round
If the first round of voting does not yield a clear winner, a second round is scheduled for February 11th. Pre-voting for this possible second round will take place from January 31st to February 6th in Finland and from January 31st to February 3rd abroad. .
presidential candidate
The election will feature a variety of candidates representing various political parties. These include leading figures from the Green Party, the National Union Party, the Finnish Center Party, the Social Democratic Party of Finland, the Left Alliance, the Finnish People’s Party, the Christian Democratic Party of Finland, and Movement Now. Independent candidates are also running, adding further depth to the political battle.
Qualifications and identification
The Digital and Population Data Services Agency, the public agency responsible for maintaining population information, distributed voting cards to voters. These can be received by mail or electronically. On election day, voters must present an official photo ID at the polling place. For people who do not have any form of identification, police will provide free temporary identification specifically designed for voting purposes.