16.7 % vote in advance in municipal, 16.1% in county polls in 5 days

A total of 757623 people cast votes in advance in Finland in municipal elections while 637340 cast votes in county election until Sunday, according to the Statistics of the Ministry of Justice.

The advance voting in the municipal and county elections in Finland started in home and abroad on April 2.

Advance voting already ended abroad on Saturday and will be held in Finland until Tuesday.

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

A total of 16.7 percent voters cast votes in the municipal polls while 16.1 percent in county polls during the first five days of advance ballot.

The highest turnout during the five days in municipal poll was reported 32.1 percent in Puolanka municipality and the lowest turnout was 10.4 percent in Mustasaari municipality.

In the county election, the highest turnout 18.7% was reported in South Savo and the lowest turnout 13.2% in Central Uusimaa county and Vantaa and Kerava county each.

A total of 29,950 candidates are contesting in the municipal elections while 10,097 in the county elections.

A total of 39,70,342 voters- 20,05,798 women and 19,64,544 men- are eligible to cast votes in the county elections while a total of 45,30,989 voters- 23,02,372 women and 22,28,617 men are eligible to cast votes in municipal polls this year.

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.

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.