Ministry of Justice gives instructions on safe voting during COVID-19
The elections website of the Ministry of Justice, Electionsfinland.fi, now contains instructions for voters on safe voting in the municipal elections during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry has prepared the instructions in cooperation with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
The purpose of the website is to provide easily understandable information on the special arrangements put in place to enable safe voting during COVID-19. Voters must wear a face mask or covering, use hand sanitiser and stay two metres away from others at the polling station. Election officials will monitor safety at the polling stations and advise voters on how to follow the instructions.
The website provides information on the verification of identity in connection with voting. Election officials may ask voters to briefly remove their face mask to verify their identity. There will be a protective screen between the official and the voter.
Special measures have been planned to enable voters placed in quarantine by a doctor or having respiratory symptoms to vote. Voters can contact the central municipal election board of their municipality to ask about these special arrangements.
Video instructions available at Electionsfinland.fi
Instructions on safe voting are available on the Electionsfinland.fi website of the Ministry of Justice, on the elections-related social media accounts (on Twitter and Facebook) and as posters at the polling stations. Information is available in Finnish, Swedish, English and North Sámi.
In addition, the Ministry of Justice has produced videos demonstrating how to vote at a polling station with protective screens while wearing a face mask. The videos are available on the Youtube channel of the Ministry of Justice in Finnish, Swedish and English.
Instructions on safe voting during COVID-19 will also sent to all eligible voters together with the notice of right to vote. These instructions will be available in Finnish and Swedish.
Material is available for use by municipalities and the media
Material related to safe voting during COVID-19 is available for use by municipalities and the media. Pre-made materials for social media and posters are available in the Government image bank.
COVID-19 situation may vary across the country
If the local health authorities issue stricter instructions on voting arrangements than the Ministry of Justice, they must be followed instead of the Ministry’s instructions.
Inquiries:
Heini Huotarinen, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 150 127, [email protected]
Laura Nurminen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 150 008, [email protected]
Arto Jääskeläinen, Director of Electoral Administration, tel. +358 295 150 128, [email protected]
Instructions on safe voting in the municipal elections during COVID-19
Electionsfinland.fi website of the Ministry of Justice