Examples of voting in county and municipal elections
On this page you can find:
An example of voting in advance
An example of voting on election day
The examples below shows one way to vote. However, the practices followed at polling stations may vary from one municipality to another. The examples below showing a voting situation will also be displayed at polling stations as a poster.
County elections and municipal elections will be held simultaneously. You may vote in advance at any of the general advance polling stations in Finland or abroad.
Residents of Helsinki will only vote in the municipal elections, because Helsinki does not belong to a wellbeing services county. However, eligible voters residing in municipalities other than Helsinki may cast their vote in both elections at the general advance polling stations located in Helsinki. Voting at institutions in both elections will also be possible in Helsinki.
When you go to the polling station, take some form of official photo ID with you, for example your passport, identity card or driving licence.
This is how you vote in advance in both elections during the same visit:
1. Show your ID to an election official.
The election official will give you two ballots, a purple one and a white one.
2. Go to the voting booth.
The purple ballot is for the county elections and the white ballot for the municipal elections. Write the number of the candidate you vote for clearly on each ballot. Do not write anything else on the ballots. The candidate numbers will be displayed in the voting booth. Please note that there will be two separate lists of candidates, one for the county elections and one for the municipal elections. The list of candidates for the county elections will be displayed on a purple background and the list of candidates for the municipal elections on a white background.
3. Fold the ballots in the middle so that no one can see the numbers.
4. Go back to the election official.
The official will stamp the ballots and give you two brown ballot envelopes.
5. Put the stamped ballots in the envelopes and seal the envelopes.
Put the purple ballot in one envelope and the white ballot in the other.
6. Sign two covering letters.
The election official will give you two covering letters that you must sign. By signing them you affirm that you have marked the ballots yourself, had them stamped, and sealed them in the envelopes.
7. Finally, the official will put all the materials in yellow covering envelopes.
At the end of the voting process, there will be two yellow covering envelopes that the election official will send to the central municipal election board of your municipality of residence.
Election officials will assist you at the polling station, so don't hesitate to ask for advice.
If you vote in advance somewhere else than in your municipality of residence, you can find the numbers of the candidates standing for election in your municipality or wellbeing services county in the books of candidates available at the advance polling station. Please note that the lists of candidates displayed in the voting booth will only show the candidates standing for election in the municipality and wellbeing services county in whose area the advance polling station is located.
Please note also that if you vote for a person who is standing as a candidate in both elections, the person will have a different candidate number for the county elections and for the municipal elections.
An example of voting on election day
On election day, you can only vote at the polling station of your voting district. Your election day polling station will be specified on the polling card to be sent to you before the elections.
The polling card will be sent to you either by post or via Suomi.fi Web Service according to your choice.
Residents of Helsinki will only vote in the municipal elections, because Helsinki does not belong to a wellbeing services county.
When you go to the polling station, take some form of official photo ID with you, for example your passport, identity card or driving licence.
This is how you vote on election day in both elections during the same visit:
1. Show your ID to an election official.
The official will find your name on the electoral roll and give you two ballots.
2. Go to the voting booth.
The purple ballot is for the county elections and the white ballot for the municipal elections. Write the number of the candidate you vote for clearly on each ballot. Do not write anything else on the ballots. The candidate numbers will be displayed in the voting booth. Please note that there will be two separate lists of candidates, one for the county elections and one for the municipal elections. The list of candidates for the county elections will be displayed on a purple background and the list of candidates for the municipal elections on a white background.
3. Fold the ballots in the middle so that no one can see the numbers.
4. Go back to the election official.
The official will stamp the ballots.
5. Drop the stamped ballots in a ballot box.
There may be one or more ballot boxes at the polling station. The ballots will be either dropped in the same ballot box or there may be separate ballot boxes for the county elections and the municipal elections. When the votes are being counted, the ballots can be distinguished based on their colour.
Election officials will assist you at the polling station, so don't hesitate to ask for advice.
Please note that if you vote for a person who is standing as a candidate in both elections, the person will have a different candidate number for the county elections and for the municipal elections.
