site.btaFinnish Election Official Discusses Voting as a Democratic Cornerstone

Petri Kaitamäki, Deputy Chair of the Finnish Oodi polling station, emphasized the importance of voting as a cornerstone of democratic values in a briefing with BTA on Wednesday.

"Unlike other EU countries where voters have the right to choose from some form of electoral list of candidates or parties, voting in elections in Finland is quite unusual", he added. The Finnish voting system for the European Parliament (EP) elections employs a unique method where voters are given a blank folded card. Inside, there is a blank circle where voters must write the number of their preferred EP candidate.

Kaitamäki told BTA that voter turnout in Finnish elections is partly influenced by weather conditions. He said that amidst the challenges facing European politics, Finnish citizens recognize the importance of voting as a cornerstone of democracy and value their electoral rights.

As for the EP elections, Kaitamäki highlighted European security policy as a key concern for Finns. He said the emphasis on environmental conservation and economic stability continues to be a critical aspect of national policy.