How to vote in Finland

The European elections take place in Finland on 9 June 2024. The advance voting period is from 29 May to 4 June 2024 in Finland and from 29 May to 1 June 2024 abroad.

The number of Members of the European Parliament to be elected in Finland is 15.

The so-called d’Hondt method is used to determine the election results. Thus, in the first stage of the calculation the total number of votes of each group, i.e. each party which does not belong to an electoral alliance, each electoral alliance, each joint list, and each constituency association which does not belong to a joint list, is counted. Parties that have formed an electoral alliance are treated as a single group, as are constituency associations on a joint list. In the second stage of the calculation the candidates in each group are ranked in order of their personal number of votes. In the third stage each candidate is accorded a comparative index, i.e. the candidate who has received the most personal votes is accorded an index which equals the total number of votes of the group, the second best candidate half of that, the third best a third, the fourth best a fourth, and so on. In the final stage all candidates within the electoral district are listed in order from best to worst according to their comparative index, and the 15 members are chosen according to the order on this list.

Registered political parties and constituency associations may put candidates forward. A party or constituency association has to submit its list of candidates (candidate application) to the national election authority by 30 April 2024 who then confirms the nomination of candidates. The list of candidates will be confirmed on 10 May 2024.
See also the website of the Ministry of Justice on European elections in Finland.

Registered political parties and constituency associations may put candidates forward. The list of candidates will be confirmed on 10 May 2024.
See also the website of the Ministry of Justice on European elections in Finland.

In Finland, there is no formal threshold for political parties to be elected to the European Parliament.

In the European elections the country as a whole is an electoral district/constituency. This means that the candidates enter as candidates in the entire country and the voters may vote for any of the candidates.
See also electoral districts in Finland.

There is no legal obligation to vote in Finland.

You are eligible to vote in the European elections in Finland if you are:

• at least 18 years old on election day
  
• a Finnish or an EU citizen with a legal residence in Finland, or a Finnish citizen residing abroad.
  

See also Right to vote in Finland.

Finnish or EU citizen voting in Finland
On election day voters may cast their votes at the polling station stated in the voting register and on the card sent to them before the elections. The polling stations are open between 9.00 and 20.00.
General advance polling stations where any person entitled to vote may do so are in Finland the municipal offices and other places designated for the purpose by the local executive. In every municipality there is at least one such polling station.
Advance voting in Finland begins on 29 May 2024 and ends on 4 June 2024.

Finnish citizen voting from abroad
You have to cast your vote at the polling station organised in the Finnish embassy of your country of residence.
You may also vote by post prior request. You can find additional information on postal voting on this page of the website of the Ministry of Justice.

Finnish citizen voting in Finland
You do not need to register in advance, as it is done automatically by the authorities. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency compiles a computer register of everyone entitled to vote (voting register) on 19 April 2024.

EU citizen voting in Finland
You need to register first by notifying the Digital and Population Data Services Agency of your intention to vote in Finland.
You can find more information on electoral rights of EU citizens in Finland on this page of the website of the Ministry of Justice.

Finnish citizen voting from abroad
You do not need to register in advance, as it is done automatically by the authorities. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency compiles a computer register of everyone entitled to vote (voting register) on 19 April 2024.

You need to bring a valid ID in order to vote both in advance and on election day. You can also bring the voting card that has been sent to you, but this is not obligatory.

You can vote in advance at home if your ability to move and act is limited to such an extent that you cannot get to the early voting place or to the polling place on election day without unreasonable difficulties. In order to vote at home you must register at the central election board of your home municipality no later than one day before early voting begins.

You may find easy-to-read information about the European elections on the easy-to-read page of this website.

Yes, voting by mail is possible.
In order to vote by mail, you have to be a Finnish citizen living outside Finland or residing abroad during the elections. In order to vote by mail, you will have to order the absentee voting material from the Ministry of Justice, which will be sent to your address of choice abroad. You will be able to vote, at the earliest, a month before the election day, and your ballot will have to arrive, at the latest, on the Friday preceding election day (Sunday 9 June). Remember to mail your absentee ballot in time, as you are personally responsible for it reaching your own central election committee in time. The voter needs two witnesses who are of age (18 or over). The absentee voting material contains more specific instructions.
More information on postal voting on this page of the website of the Ministry of Justice.

You cannot vote online in Finland.

You cannot vote by proxy in Finland.