Remember to vote in the county elections
Until now, municipalities have been responsible for organising health, social and rescue services, but in future, this responsibility will be assumed by the wellbeing services counties. The wellbeing services counties are autonomous, and the highest decision-making power in each county will be exercised by a county council.
You can only vote for a candidate standing for election in your wellbeing services county. Your municipality of residence determines the wellbeing services county in which you are entitled to vote.
Why is it important to vote in the county elections?
By voting, you can have a say on important matters that concern everyone’s daily lives. The councillors to be elected in the county elections will decide on the organisation of local services in the wellbeing services counties as of the beginning of 2023.
Duties of a wellbeing services county
- Primary healthcare
- Specialised healthcare
- Social welfare
- Services for children, youth and families
- Services for working-age people
- Services for older people
- Mental health and substance abuse services
- Services for people with disabilities
- Student welfare
- Promoting health and wellbeing
- Rescue services
Who is entitled to vote?
Finnish citizens who reside in a wellbeing services county and reach the age of 18 years on election day 23 January 2022 at the latest are entitled to vote in the county elections.
In addition, foreign nationals residing in a wellbeing services county are eligible to vote in the county elections under certain conditions. Further information on the determination of the right to vote in county elections is available here.
What should I do now?
If you are entitled to vote, you have received a notice of right to vote in December. The notice will be sent in electronic format if you have activated the Suomi.fi Messages service and given your consent for all official notifications to be sent to you electronically.
During the advance voting period (12.1. – 18.1.2022), you can vote at any polling station of your choice. On election day, 23 January 2022, you may only vote at the polling station mentioned in the notice of right to vote sent to you.