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Finland
General Right to
Vote
Constitution:
(11 June 1999)
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."
Section 14 states "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."
Specific Inclusion
of People with Disabilities
Constitution:
(11 June 1999)
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."
Exclusion from
Office Based on Mental Disability
Constitution:
(11 June 1999)
Section 27 states "Everyone with the right to vote and who
is not under guardianship can be a candidate in parliamentary elections."
Voter Assistance
By Other Citizens
Electoral Law:
(1998)
Article 58 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, "Persons whose ability to exercise the
act of voting is seriously impaired may be helped by a person of their
choosing."
Off-Site Voting
Provisions
Electoral Law:
(1998)
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:
1) 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.
2) 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
3) that the voter can ensure that the person as referred to under Article
54 can attend when the voting at home takes place.
Promotes Access
Electoral Law:
(1998)
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 190 states, "Transport of disabled voters to early
voting or polling stations shall be governed by what was enacted with
respect to disability under the Act on the Provision of Services and Help
to the Disabled (380/1987)."
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