26.4% of voters cast votes in advance in county polls

More than 1 035 745 votes were cast in advance in the first ever county elections and the number is about 26.4 per cent of all eligible voters, said the Ministry of Justice in a press release on Wednesday.

The percentage of the votes cast in advance, however, was lower compared to the last municipal elections held in June 2021 when about 33% of voters cast votes in advance.

The advance ballot in the county elections started on 12 January and ended on Tuesday (18 January) amid worsening coronavirus situation in the country. The advance voting abroad ended on 15 January.

The ration of advance vote casting was highest in South Savo where 31.1 percent voters cast their votes while the ratio was lowest in Vantaa-Kerava county with 19.5 percent turnout.

The county elections will be held on 23 January in 21 wellbeing services (social, health and rescue services) counties.

The number of general advance polling stations in Finland was 900. Advance voting held at 94 places in 70 different countries abroad.

The total number of election day polling stations is 1,664.