Voting abroad
Eligible voters can choose between two different ways of voting: advance voting or voting by post.
Advance voting
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is responsible for the organisation of advance voting abroad(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window) and on board Finnish ships. Voters can cast their vote at any of the Finnish missions abroad that have been designated for the purpose by decree. On Finnish ships sailing abroad, crew members who have the right to vote are entitled to vote in advance at sea.
Read more about advance voting arrangements on the website of the Ministry of Justice at www.vaalit.fi(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window).
Voting by post
Expatriate Finns who are entitled to vote may cast their vote by post. Eligible votes with a permanent residence in Finland may also vote by post, if they are staying abroad during the time that voting is possible in Finland, that is, on the advance voting dates and the election day.
Order the postal voting pack(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window) well in advance from the Ministry of Justice. Please read the materials carefully.
Right to vote
If you are a Finnish citizen with a permanent residence abroad, you are entitled to vote in parliamentary elections and presidential election conducted in Finland. You also have the right to vote in the elections to the European Parliament conducted in Finland if you have not been entered in the voting register for the European elections in your country of residence.
Up-to-date contact details
Digital and Population Data Services Agency(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window) sends a notice of right to vote (a polling card) to all expatriate Finns whose details have been entered in the voting register in Finland(Link to another website.). Make sure that your contact details are up to date in the population information system.