Info
Legislative Framework
LF001
Status of Electoral Law
Question: What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):
a . Part of Constitution b . Separate legislation
Comments:
Source: Constitution: http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990731.pdf (2012);
Election Act 714/1998 as amended;
http://www.legislationline.org/documents/action/popup/id/5672
Act on a Candidate’s Election Funding
http://www.legislationline.org/search/runSearch/1/key/election/country/32/rows/10
The Municipalities Act (365/1994)
Act on Political Parties (10/1969)
https://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1969/en19690010_19920653.pdf
Verified: 2019/04/02
LF003
Electoral Law covers
Question: The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):
a . National elections c . Local elections e . Other
Comments: OTHER: Elections for the European Parliament
"Section 1 — Scope of Application
This Act contains, in addition to provisions regarding elections contained in the Constitution and the Municipalities Act (365/1994), provisions on how to carry out:
1) the election of members to Parliament (parliamentary elections);
2) the election of the President of the Republic (the Presidential election);
3) municipal elections; and
4) the election of members to the European Parliament from Finland
(European Parliamentary elections)."
Source: Election Act 714/1998 as amended, Section 1
http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1998/en19980714.pdf
Verified: 2019/04/02
LF004
Compulsory/voluntary voting
Question: Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):
a . Voting is voluntary
Comments: In parliamentary elections, the Presidential election and European Parliamentary elections, every Finnish citizen is entitled to vote provided the person has reached the age of 18 not later than on the day of the election. In the Presidential election, the voting age must be reached not later than on the day of the first round of the Presidential election.
Source: Election Act 714/1998 as amended, Section 2
Verified: 2019/04/02
LF007
Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)
Question: What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):
a . Judiciary
Comments: The appeal shall be sent to a competent Provincial Administrative Court within 14 days from the confirmation of the election results. In European Parliamentary elections, the appeal is, however, always sent to the Provincial Administrative Court of Uusimaa.
Source: Election Act 714/1998 as amended, Section 102, para. 1
http://www.legislationline.org/documents/action/popup/id/5672
Verified: 2019/04/02
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Additional, but potentially outdated material is available here.
