Finland parish elections to begin with early voting in November

Early voting for the Finnish parish elections is scheduled to take place from November 3 to November 7, with the official election day set for Sunday, November 15. All church members aged 16 and older are eligible to vote.

In the Alajärvi parish, 44 candidates are running across five different lists, while the Soini parish features 13 candidates all running on a single list. Nationally, approximately 75 percent of the 11,400 candidates have participated in the election machine to share their views. Notably, nearly 70 percent of this year's candidates are new to the process, with those under 30 being the most active in using the election tool.

Voting options include various locations such as markets, libraries, educational institutions, and parish facilities. For individuals with mobility issues, home voting is available provided they register by October 30. In the Upper Savo parish union, voters are entitled to cast two votes, which apply to both the local parish council and the joint church council.