Theäänestäjärekisteri

Theäänestäjärekisteri, or voter register, is a comprehensive list of all eligible voters in Finland. Its primary purpose is to ensure that only those who meet the legal requirements can cast a ballot in elections and referendums. The register is maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Digi- ja väestötietovirasto).

Eligibility for inclusion in theäänestäjärekisteri is determined by Finnish law. Generally, Finnish citizens aged 18 or over, who have a permanent residence in Finland, are eligible to vote. For municipal elections, EU citizens residing in Finland are also eligible, and for European Parliament elections, citizens of EU member states residing in Finland are included. The register is updated regularly based on information from the Population Information System.

When an election is called, theäänestäjärekisteri is used to create voting lists for each polling station. These lists are used by election officials to verify voters' identities and confirm their eligibility to vote at that specific location. Voters receive an information letter (vaalitiedote) before an election, which confirms their inclusion in the register and provides details about their designated polling station. The register also plays a role in postal voting processes. The information contained within the register is protected by privacy laws, and access is restricted to authorized personnel for election-related purposes only.