29,950 to contest in municipal, 10,097 in county polls

A total of 29,950 candidates will contest in the municipal elections while 10,097 in the county elections scheduled to be held in Finland next month, according to the Ministry of Justice, the authority to hold elections in the country.

Elections to the 308 municipalities and 21 counties will be held all over the country simultaneously on April 13.

A total of 39,75,916 voters- 20,08,574 women and 19,67,342 men- are eligible to cast votes in the elections this year.

Advance voting in the elections will be held in Finland from April 2 to April 8 and abroad between April 2 and April 5.

In the municipal elections, voters will elect representatives for municipal councils for next four years who will decide on the activities and finances of municipalities.

In the county elections, voters will elect representatives for county councils for next four years who will decide on the organisation and provision of health and social services and rescue services in wellbeing services counties.

Residents of Helsinki will only vote in the municipal elections, because Helsinki does not belong to a wellbeing services county. The City of Helsinki is responsible for health and social services and rescue services in Helsinki.