A third more Finns voted abroad compared to the previous European elections
Press release 141/2004
11 June, 2004
Polling stations set up by Finnish missions abroad for the European Parliament elections resulted in 9 832 advance votes which is about a third larger count compared to the elections in 1999 when a total of 7 418 votes were cast. In Sweden, the number of Finnish votes was 1 406 (1 108 in 1999), in Belgium 693 (498) and in Spain 487 (344). Brussels was the busiest polling station with 940 voters. In Stockholm, 531 Finns came to vote, and in London 304 voters.
The number of Finnish votes abroad in European elections is considerably smaller compared to Finnish parliamentary or presidential elections. In the 2003 parliamentary elections 26 750 votes were cast by Finns abroad and 37 006 votes in the presidential elections in 2000. Finns with permanent residence in any of the EU member states can register as voters in their country of residence which excludes them from voting for Finnish representatives to the European Parliament.
Further information: Pekka Hyvönen, Head of the Unit for Consular Services, tel. +358 9 160 55739, and Elections Officer Anne Hakkarainen, tel. +358 9 160 55736, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland