More than 29,000 Finns voted abroad in the first round of presidential elections
10.1.2006
More than 29,000 Finns visited the advance polling stations abroad to cast their votes in the first round of presidential elections. According to the calculations made by the polling stations themselves, the number of Finns who came to vote at the Finnish embassies, consulates and other polling facilities abroad was well over 29,000. Information from a few polling stations is not yet available. The number is almost the same as in the first round of presidential elections the last time, in the year 2000. Then the number of voters was 29,438.
Traditionally, the number of voters has been the highest in Sweden, where the total of 9,292 people entitled to vote came to vote. The turnout of voters in Sweden was a little lower than in the first round of previous presidential elections, when the number of voters was 9,645.
After Sweden, the number of voters was the highest in Spain, 4,308, and the second highest in the United States, with 1,991 voters, and next came Germany, 1,903, Great Britain, 1,333 and Belgium, 1,125.
Covering envelopes containing all the cast votes will arrive at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Helsinki by the end of the week. From there they will be delivered by the stipulated deadline, i.e. by 19.00 o’clock on Friday, 13 January, to the central elections committees of the respective municipalities.
Additional information: Director Pekka Hyvönen, Unit for Consular Services, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5739, +358 40 511 1649
More voters abroad came to polls in the first round of presidential elections than six years ago