vaalilaki

Vaalilaki, or the Election Act, is the primary legal framework governing elections in Finland and in contexts where the Finnish term is used. It specifies how elections are organized, conducted, and supervised, and provides the rules that ensure voters and candidates are treated fairly.

The Act covers elections to Parliament (eduskuntavaalit), to municipal councils (kunnallisvaalit), and to the President of the Republic, and, where applicable, European Parliament elections. It defines who may vote and who may stand as a candidate, sets electoral districts and the allocation of seats, and prescribes the procedures for casting and counting ballots.

It also regulates campaigning and campaign finance, voter registration, accessibility and equal treatment of voters, early and advance voting, and the use of electoral procedures and technology. It establishes rules for vote counting, result verification, and the handling of disputes and recounts. Violations of the act carry penalties provided by law.

Administration and implementation are carried out by state and local authorities responsible for elections, with oversight by courts in electoral disputes. The Act is periodically amended by Parliament to reflect constitutional principles, changes in electoral practice, or reforms in public administration.

Vaalilaki is a central component of Finland's democratic framework. It interacts with other constitutional provisions and election-related statutes to promote transparent, free, and equal participation in political processes.