Published
13.2.2025 6:51:00

Deputy-Ombudsman Maija Sakslin found that, due to varying reasons, special advance voting had not been arranged in all social welfare institutions referred to in the Election Act. This was revealed when the Deputy-Ombudsman investigated on her own initiative the organisation of special advance voting in randomly selected municipalities.

Inspections have found that the residents of social welfare units appreciate the possibility of special advance voting at their institution. Deputy-Ombudsman Sakslin: “Having the possibility to vote at a special advance voting facility is important because it especially increases the voting activity of persons with disabilities and older people, who do not have the option to go to general polling stations.”

The staff of some units reported that their residents would visit general advance polling stations or vote on the actual election day, which is why the unit did not want the special advance vote organised by the municipality. The Deputy-Ombudsman stated that the Election Act does not leave municipalities discretionary powers in the implementation of special advance voting. However, voters have the right to visit a general advance polling station or the election day polling station. The Deputy-Ombudsman welcomed the promotion of residents’ rights to participate by helping them get to the polling station.

According to reports received by the Deputy-Ombudsman, municipal election authorities had had difficulties in obtaining information on all their regional social welfare units where institutional voting would have to be organised. As a result, special advance voting facilities were not arranged in all of the institutions. Deputy-Ombudsman Sakslin asked the Ministry of Justice to consider whether it is necessary to issue municipalities more detailed election guidelines on special advance voting facilities and to have them report by 10 March 2025 what measures the proposal may have given rise to.

The full text of the Deputy-Ombudsman’s decision EOAK/1370/2024 has been published (in Finnish) on the website www.oikeusasiamies.fi

Further information is available from Päivi Lahtinen, Senior Legal Adviser, tel. +358 (0)9 432 3370.