General Right to Vote
Constitution
(1999, last amended 2007)

• Section 14 states, "Every Finnish citizen who has reached eighteen years of age has the right to vote in national elections and referendums...Every Finnish citizen and every foreigner permanently resident in Finland, having attained eighteen years of age, has the right to vote in municipal elections and municipal referendums, as provided by an Act. The public authorities shall promote the opportunities for the individual to participate in societal activity and to influence the decisions that concern him or her."

Electoral Act
Election Act
(1998, last amended 2004)

• Section 2, paragraph 1 states, “In parliamentary elections, the Presidential election and European parliamentary elections, every Finnish citizen is entitled to vote provided the person has reached the age of 18 not later than on the day of the election. In the Presidential election, the voting age must be reached not later than on the day of the first round of the Presidential election.”

Specific Inclusion of People with Disabilities
Constitution
(1999, last amended 2007)

• Section 6 states, "...No one shall, without an acceptable reason, be treated differently from other persons on the ground of sex, age, origin, language, religion, conviction, opinion, health, disability or other reason that concerns his or her person."
• Section 17 states, “...The rights of persons using sign language and of persons in need of interpretation or translation owing to disability shall be guaranteed by an Act.”

Exclusion Based on Intellectual Disability
Constitution
(1999, last amended 2007)

• Section 27 states, "Everyone with the right to vote and who is not under guardianship can be a candidate in parliamentary elections."

Electoral Law
Local Government Law
(1995, last amended 2007)

• Section 33 states, “Those qualified for election to a municipal elective office shall be persons...3) who are not under guardianship.”

Voter Assistance
Electoral Law
Election Act
(1998, last amended 2004)

• Article 58 [regarding advance voting] states, "At the request of voters, an election commissioner or election committee member shall help them vote. Persons whose ability to mark a voting ticket is severely limited can have a person of their choosing help them vote. A candidate in the election cannot act in this capacity. The helper must conscientiously fill out the voter's wish and must hold the information so obtained in confidence."
• Article 73 states, “A person whose ability to make a mark in the ballot is essentially weakened may use the help of an assistant he or she has chosen in marking the ballot.”
• Section 190 states, “With regard to the transportation of disabled enfranchised persons to the polling and advance polling stations what has been laid down in respect to transportation services in the law governing the organization of services and supporting functions for the disabled is in force.”

Off-Site Voting
Electoral Law
Election Act
(1998, last amended 2004)

• Article 46 states, "Every person entitled to vote can vote early at early voting locations in Finland and at Finnish missions abroad. Persons entitled to vote who are being treated in hospital, in a social services unit that provides round-the-clock care or another location designated as a polling station by the central election committee, or who are incarcerated, can vote early at the location in question... Persons entitled to vote whose mobility or functions are restricted to the extent that they cannot reach a polling or early voting station without undue difficulty may, as referred to under Article 55, vote early at home in Finland in the municipality that is designated as their domicile in the electoral register."
• Article 55 states, "Persons entitled to vote early at home shall indicate their wish to the central election committee in writing or by telephone not later than 4:00 p.m.12 days before polling day. This can be done on the voter's behalf by a person of their choosing. Written applications, which must be signed, can be made on the appropriate official form. The notification shall indicate:
• The voter’s full name, ID number, address, domicile and telephone number. If the form is completed by someone else, it shall include their name and contact details.
• That the voter’s mobility or functions are restricted to the extent that they cannot reach the polling or early voting station without undue difficulty and therefore they wish to vote early at home; and
• That the voter can ensure that the person as referred to under Article 54 can attend when the voting at home takes place.

• Constitution - http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990731
• Election Act (1998) - http://www.finlex.fi/pdf/saadkaan/E9980714.PDF
• The Local Government Act - http://www.kunnat.net/en/authorities/local-self-government/Documents/Finnish%20Local%20Government%20Act.pdf