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The Finnish Election System. Overview Publica� ons of the Opera� ons and 2020:3 Ministry of Jus� ce Finland administra� on The Finnish Election System Overview Publications of the Ministry of Justice, Operations and administration 2020:3 The Finnish Election System Overview Ministry of Justice, Finland, Helsinki 2020 Ministry of Justice, Finland ISBN: 978-952-259-792-2 Layout: Government Administration Department, Publications Helsinki 2020 Description sheet Published by Ministry of Justice, Finland 21 January 2020 Authors Arto Jääskeläinen The Finnish Election System Title of publication Overview Series and publication Publications of the Ministry of Justice, Operations and administration number 2020:3 Operations and Register number VN/12138/2019 Subject administration ISBN PDF 978-952-259-792-2 ISSN (PDF) 2490-208X Website address http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-259-792-2 (URN) Pages 38 Language English Keywords elections, election system Abstract General presentation of the Finnish election system. Publisher Ministry of Justice, Finland Distributed by/ Online version: julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi Publication sales Publication sales: vnjulkaisumyynti.fi Kuvailulehti Julkaisija Oikeusministeriö 21.1.2020 Tekijät Arto Jääskeläinen Suomen vaalijärjestelmä Julkaisun nimi Yleisesitys Julkaisusarjan nimi Oikeusministeriön julkaisuja, Toiminta ja hallinto ja numero 2020:3 Diaari/hankenumero VN/12138/2019 Teema Toiminta ja hallinto ISBN PDF 978-952-259-792-2 ISSN PDF 2490-208X URN-osoite http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-259-792-2 Sivumäärä 38 Kieli englanti Asiasanat vaalit, vaalijärjestelmä Tiivistelmä Yleisesitys Suomen vaalijärjestelmästä. Kustantaja Oikeusministeriö Julkaisun Sähköinen versio: julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi jakaja/myynti Julkaisumyynti: vnjulkaisumyynti.fi Presentationsblad Utgivare Justitieministeriet 21.1.2020 Författare Arto Jääskeläinen Valsystemet i Finland Publikationens titel Översikt Publikationsseriens Justitieministeriets publikationer, Verksamhet och förvaltning namn och nummer 2020:3 Diarie-/ Verksamhet och VN/12138/2019 Tema projektnummer förvaltning ISBN PDF 978-952-259-792-2 ISSN PDF 2490-208X URN-adress http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-259-792-2 Sidantal 38 Språk engelska Nyckelord val, valsystemet Referat En allmän presentation av valsystemet i Finland. Förläggare Justitieministeriet Distribution/ Elektronisk version: julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi beställningar Beställningar: vnjulkaisumyynti.fi Contents 1 General .................................................................................................................................................................... 9 1.1 Elections and legislation ........................................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Key principles for conducting elections ................................................................................................... 10 1.3 Election authorities ........................................................................................................................................................ 11 2 Parliamentary elections ................................................................................................................................... 12 2.1 General ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Right to vote and candidate eligibility ....................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Electoral districts .............................................................................................................................................................. 13 2.4 Nomination of candidates ...................................................................................................................................... 14 2.5 Compilation of voting register .......................................................................................................................... 15 2.6 Voting ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 2.6.1 Voting in advance ................................................................................................................................... 16 2.6.2 Postal voting ............................................................................................................................................ 17 2.6.3 Voting on election day .......................................................................................................................... 17 2.7 Calculation of election results ............................................................................................................................. 18 2.7.1 Counting of advance votes ................................................................................................................... 18 2.7.2 Counting of votes cast on election day ............................................................................................ 18 2.7.3 Recount of votes and confirmation of election results ................................................................ 19 2.7.4 Determination of election results ...................................................................................................... 19 3 Presidential election ........................................................................................................................................... 20 3.1 General ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 20 3.2 Nomination of presidential candidates ..................................................................................................... 21 3.3 Right to vote, compilation of voting register and voting ........................................................ 21 3.4 Calculation of election results ............................................................................................................................. 22 4 Municipal elections .............................................................................................................................................. 23 4.1 General ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 23 4.2 Right to vote and candidate eligibility ....................................................................................................... 24 4.3 Nomination of candidates ...................................................................................................................................... 24 4.4 Compilation of voting register, voting and calculation of election results ........... 25 5 Elections to the European Parliament................................................................................................. 26 5.1 General ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 5.2 Right to vote and candidate eligibility ....................................................................................................... 27 5.3 Nomination of candidates ...................................................................................................................................... 28 5.4 Compilation of voting register, voting and calculation of election results ........... 29 6 Appeal against election results ................................................................................................................. 30 7 Political parties ........................................................................................................................................................ 31 7.1 General ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 7.2 Establishing a political party ................................................................................................................................ 31 7.3 Funding of political parties .................................................................................................................................... 32 8 Candidate’s election funding ...................................................................................................................... 33 9 Election Information System ....................................................................................................................... 35 10 Further information ............................................................................................................................................. 37 Annex: Registered political parties .................................................................................................................. 38 THE FINNISH ELECTION SYSTEM – OVERVIEW 1 General 1.1 Elections and legislation In Finland, the following are elected through general elections: • Parliament (200 Members of Parliament), • the President of the Republic, • municipal councils1
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