42.8% cast votes in Presidential poll´s advance ballot

A total of 1906775 people cast votes in advance in Finland in the presidential election, which is 44.5 percent of the total voters living in the country, said the Statistics of the Ministry of Justice after end of the advance voting on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the number of votes cast by Finns living abroad is significantly low and 38592 voters out of total 264330 cast votes during the advance ballot and the turnout was 14.6 percent.

The advance voting in the election, which was started on January 17 in home and abroad was ended in Finland on Tuesday. Earlier, the advance ballot was ended abroad on January 20.

Total turnout in the advance voting in home and abroad was 42.8 percent.

A total of 955 general advance polling stations were set up across the country while a total of 220 advance polling stations were setup in 89 different countries, located at Finland's diplomatic and consular missions or their offices.

In Finland, the highest turnout was reported 49.9 percent in Pirkanmaa region followed by 49.3 percent in Lapland and 48 percent in Satakunta.

The lowest turnout was 21.8 percent in Åland followed by 41.6 percent in Uusimaa and 41.7 percent in Vaasa.

The ratio of votes cast in advance by women was 47.7 percent and men was 41.2 percent in Finland.

A total of 4546041 voters- 4281711 in Finland and 264330 abroad- are entitled to vote this year´s presidential election.

The election will be held on January 28 and the election day for the second round, if needed will be conducted, on 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.

Nine candidates are contesting the presidential poll this year. They 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.