Vaalipäivä

Vaalipäivä is the Finnish term for election day, the day on which citizens of Finland cast their ballots for the Parliament, the president, and local municipalities. The term is also used more broadly to describe any scheduled voting day, such as referendums and municipal elections.

In Finland, general elections for the Finnish Parliament are held every four years on the third Saturday in April. Voters may submit ballots by hand at polling stations or use the postal vote system, with early voting available from the Monday preceding election day. Since Finland adopted a compulsory voter registration system in the early 20th century, voter turnout has historically ranged from 70 to 80 percent. The electoral system is proportional representation based on the D'Hondt method, which allows voters to select party lists or specific candidates.

Presidential elections occur every six years, typically in January. The current incumbent president serves a six‑year term, and the president is elected by a two‑round system if no candidate achieves an absolute majority in the first round. Local and regional elections for municipal councils take place concurrently with parliamentary elections to streamline the voting process.

Vaalipäivä carries significant democratic importance in Finland. The processes are regulated by the Finnish Electoral Act and overseen by the Supreme Court, which ensures the legality and fairness of the elections. Public education campaigns are routinely conducted ahead of each Vaalipäivä to inform citizens about the candidates, issues, and logistical details of voting.