Äänestetäänkö

äänestetäänkö is a Finnish phrase used to ask whether a vote will take place or whether a proposal will be voted on. It is formed from the verb äänestää (to vote) in the passive present tense äänestetään, combined with the yes–no question particle -kö. The result, äänestetäänkö, functions as a neutral, formal way to pose a question about a future or planned vote.

Grammatically, äänestetään is the passive form, used when the doer of the action is unspecified. The -kö/-ko question particle attaches to the end of the clause to indicate a yes–no question; the form harmonizes with the preceding vowels, and in standard usage the form is written as äänestetäänkö (with -kö). The phrase can refer to whether a vote will occur on a specific matter or whether people should vote.

Usage and context vary from formal to semi-formal settings, such as meeting discussions, parliamentary procedures, or journalistic reports about a legislative process. It emphasizes the action of voting being on the agenda rather than the results of the vote.

Examples:

- Äänestetäänkö tätä lakiehdotusta tänään? (Will this bill be voted on today?)

- Äänestetäänkö? (Shall we vote?)

Relation to related terms: äänestys refers to the act of voting or a vote itself, while äänestäminen denotes the general process or practice of voting. The phrase äänestetäänkö is a specific interrogative form used within the broader Finnish vocabulary around decision-making and electoral procedures.