Advance Voting in the Parish Elections of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Begins on Tuesday 3 November: All Church Members Aged 16 and Over Can Vote

You can vote in the parish elections in advance from Tuesday to Saturday, between 3 and 7 November. You can vote at any advance polling station in Finland. There are more than forty advance polling stations in Espoo.  For example, you can vote at the Ainoa, Lippulaiva, Iso Omena and Sello shopping centres.   

Eligible voters have received a covering letter for advance voting. You can speed up the voting process by bringing the letter with you to the polling station, but you can vote even if you have forgotten and left it at home. However, you will need a valid ID to vote.   

The actual election day is Sunday 15 November. On the election day, those entitled to vote may only vote at a specific polling station in their home parish that was mentioned in their voting rights notice. The polling stations will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the election day.  

“Use your voice to have a say in how your church tax will be spent, to elect the people who will make decisions near you, and to shape the services and activities of your parish to suit your needs,” says Mirja Miettinen, Project Coordinator at the Evangelical Lutheran Parishes of Espoo.  

Two elections in Espoo: voters fill in two different ballot papers in the elections  

All parishes in Espoo will hold two elections. The white ballot paper is used to vote for a candidate for the joint parish council (yhteinen kirkkovaltuusto) of Espoo Parishes. The orange ballot paper is used to vote for a candidate for the parish board (seurakuntaneuvosto) of your local parish.  

The joint parish council of Espoo parishes decides on matters such as the church tax rate, the distribution of funds, major construction projects, property and the strategy of the Parish Union.  

The parish board decides on the parish’s activities and finances, selects the parish’s employees and issues statements on matters concerning the parish to the joint church council.  

Use your vote, because now is the time for decisions, changes and opportunities.  

The voting advice applications (vaalikone, in Finnish) can help you find a suitable candidate. There is a separate voting advice application for young people. 

Espoo Parishes organises also Children’s elections 

The Espoo parishes are organising children’s elections for the second time in connection with the parish elections. The aim of the children’s elections is to strengthen children’s participation and provide them with a concrete opportunity to have a say in common matters. Children under the age of 16 have the right to vote in the children’s elections. 

In this year’s children’s elections, children will get to vote on the content of an event for children. They can choose either a magic show, a theatre performance or a Moomin concert. The option that receives the most votes will be organised for children and families in spring 2027. 
 
See the polling stations for the children’s elections here (in Finnish)