County elections: Proving identity at polling stations

In the 2022 county elections, eligible voters must prove their identity to an election official in the same way as in any other elections. Voters may prove their identity with a photo ID, such as an identity card, passport or driving licence issued by the police. 

The old cardboard driving licence may also be accepted, if the voter can be identified from the photo and the election official can thus reliably verify the voter's identity. 

Voters who do not have a valid proof of identity can obtain a temporary identity card free of charge from the police for voting purposes. 

When identifying a voter, an election official may ask the voter to briefly remove their face mask.

Instructions on safe voting during COVID-19

The county elections to be held in January 2022 are the second elections that will be held in Finland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the high number of infections, the situation is different from the situation prevailing during the municipal elections last spring. In January, all eligible voters will have received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, if they have chosen to. Vaccines provide effective protection especially against the most serious forms of COVID-19. According to the assessment of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, voting is a low-risk activity.

The Electionsfinland.fi website contains instructions for voters on safe voting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Voters must wear a face mask, use hand sanitiser and maintain sufficient physical distance from others at the polling station. Election officials will monitor safety at the polling stations and advise voters on how to follow the instructions. Voters may bring their own pen to the polling station if they so wish.

Special measures have been planned to enable voters placed in quarantine or isolation by a doctor or having respiratory symptoms to vote. Voters can contact the central municipal election board of their municipality to ask about the special arrangements.

Voters may vote either during the advance voting period from 12 to 18 January 2022 or on election day 23 January 2022.

Reliable information about elections is available at www.electionsfinland.fi.
Instructions for voters during COVID-19 at www.electionsfinland.fi
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL): Coronavirus COVID-19 – Latest Updates

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Elections helpline: 0800 9 4770 (in Finnish) and 0800 9 4771 (in Swedish).
WhatsApp service for election-related questions: 050 438 8730