Advance ballot in presidential poll begins on Wednesday

Advance voting in the presidential election will be held from Wednesday to January 23 in Finland, said the Ministry of Justice in a press release on Monday.

The advance voting will be also held abroad from Wednesday to Saturday.

A total of 955 general advance polling stations will be set up across the country for the election.

Abroad, there will be a total of 220 advance polling stations in 89 different countries, located at Finland's diplomatic and consular missions or their offices.

The election will be held on January 28 and the election day for the second round, if one needs to be conducted, is February 11.

The advance voting period for the possible second round is from January 31 to February 6 in Finland and from January 31 to February 3 abroad.

The candidates who are contesting the presidential poll are: Veteran politician of Vihreä Liitto (Green Party) Pekka Haavisto, former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb (Kansallinen Kokoomus-National Coalition Party), former lawmaker and Bank of Finland Governor Olli Rehn of Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party of Finland), former Chairperson of Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland -SDP) Jutta Urpilainen, Vasemmistoliitto (Left Alliance) Chairperson Li Andersson, Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) leader and Speaker of the Parliament Jussi Halla-aho, SuomenKristillisdemokraatit (Christian Democrats of Finland-CD) Chairperson Sari Essayah, Liike Nyt (Movement Now) lawmaker Harry Harkimo and Independent candidate Mika Aaltola.

During the advance voting period, eligible voters may cast vote at any of the general advance polling stations in Finland or abroad.

The Digital and Population Data Services Agency has sent a polling card to all eligible voters either by post or electronically via Suomi.fi Messages.

Voters must present proof of their identity at the polling station. Official photo IDs, such as passports, driving licences and identity cards issued by the police are accepted as proof of identity.

Voters who do not have a valid proof of identity can obtain a temporary identity card free of charge from the police for voting purposes.