Presidential Elections 2006

The President of the Republic is elected by a direct vote, if necessary, in two rounds. If none of the candidates has received a majority of the votes cast in the first election, a new election shall be held between the two candidates who received most votes in the first election. The one of the two candidates who receives most votes in the second round is elected President. The term of office of the President is six years.

Timetable

The first round in the Presidential Election will be held on 15 January 2006. In the first election, the advance voting period in Finland is from 4 to 5 and from 7 to 10 January. Some advance polling stations have restricted opening times during the above period. The advance polling stations in Finland are closed on 6 January. It is also possible to vote in advance at any of the 237 Finnish diplomatic or consular representations abroad. In the first election, the advance voting period abroad is from 4 to 7 January.

The possible second round will be held on 29 January 2006. In the possible second election, the advance voting period in Finland is from 18 to 24 January and abroad from 18 to 21 January.

Read more about the presidential elections in Korsholm.

The Election Day

On the election day, voters may vote only at the polling station named on the information card. The general polling stations will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Advance Polling

It is possible to vote in advance at any of the general advance polling stations in Finland or abroad

Advance polling stations in Finland

Advance polling stations abroad

Polling at Home

A person who is so gravely disabled that he/she cannot come to an advance polling station for advance voting or to a general polling station on the election day, has the right to vote in advance in his/her home.

The one who wishes to vote in advance in his/her home shall notify his/her intention to vote in his/her home to the Central Election Committee of his/her municipality on 3 January 2006 before 4 p.m. at the latest. If the person concerned did not vote in advance in his/her home in the first election, it is thus possible to notify his/her intention to vote in his/home in the second election to the above Committee on 17 January before 4 p.m. at the latest.

Advance polling at home in the first round will be held 4 to 10 January and in the possible second round from 18 to 24 January.

Who Can Vote?

Every Finnish citizen who has reached eighteen years of age on the day of the first election (15 january 2006) at the latest has the right to vote.  

Information Card

The Population Register Centre will send a notice of the right to vote (two cards of information) to everyone who is entitled to vote and has his/her address registered in the Population Information System. One of the two information cards is intended to be used in the first election and the other one in the possible second election. The information cards will be sent by post in December.

The information was taken from: www.om.fi/33875.htm
www.vaalit.fi/teksti/14173.htm