Municipal elections 2008

What are municipal elections?

Municipal elections are elections, where the Municipal Council is voted for next four years. Municipal Council is the highest decision-making body in the municipality.

When?

Municipal election 2008 will be held the 26th of October 2008. Advance voting is from 15 to 21 October.

Who can vote?

All EU-citizens and citizens of Norway and Iceland who are residents of the municipality (excluding some special cases) and who are over 18 years old and who have had the residency of the municipality on the 5^th of September 2008 according to the population information system have right to vote in municipal elections. Persons who come outside of previous mentioned countries have had to have a continuous residence of municipality in Finland at least for two years.

Where?

If you choose to vote on advance you can vote at every advance polling station in Finland. General advance polling stations can be found in http://www.vaalit.fi/25697.htm

If you choose to vote on Sunday the 26^th of October, you have to vote at your own polling station which is given to you in the “the notice of your right to vote” -card of information which you have got from your own municipality.

Why vote?

Many everyday decisions that affect you are made on municipal level. For example public transportation fees and the construction of new student apartments are current topics which are important for every student. By voting a suitable person to the Municipal Council you can influence the decisions made by council members which concern you.

More information:

More information can be found on Foreign Ministry’s web pages at http://www.vaalit.fi/14173.htm. There is information about elections, referendums, political parties and the elections in general on thirteen languages.

SYL, the Finnish Union of Student Unions, has own web pages with other student organizations at www.valtanuorille.fi. There is information from the point of view young people and students.