The municipal elections have been postponed until June and the polling stations and opening hours have been changed, both for the voting in advance and for the voting on election day. The City Board decided on 29 March to move the Helsinki polling stations to larger premises and to extend the opening hours in order to ensure that the elections can be conducted safely during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Act on the Postponement of the 2021 Municipal Elections entered into force on 29 March 2021. Election day is 13 June 2021 and the advance voting period is from 26 May to 8 June 2021 in Finland and from 2 to 5 June 2021 abroad. The new council period starts on 1 August 2021.
Drive-in general advance polling station at the former Malmi Airport
The advance voting of the municipal elections is conducted from 26 May to 8 June 2021 in Finland and from 2 to 5 June 2021 abroad. An updated list of the general advance polling stations in Helsinki and their opening hours can be found here: General advance polling stations in Helsinki
As changes to the previous arrangements, the general advance polling station at the Pasila library has been moved to Messukeskus and the general advance polling station at Kauppakeskus Kaari has been moved to Kanneltalo. A drive-in general advance polling station will be established at the former Malmi Airport.
A drive-in option for cars and bicycle and pedestrian traffic can also be arranged in connection to the general advance polling station at the Töölö sports hall.
Every person entitled to vote may do so in advance at any general advance polling station.
Changes to voting day polling stations
The 13 June 2021 voting day polling stations in Helsinki can be found here: Voting day polling stations in Helsinki
The City Board decided to move some polling stations to larger premises. In one polling district, the polling station has to be moved because the original location is not available in June.
On election day, the person who is entitled to vote can do so only at the specific polling station allocated to them based on the polling district in the voting register.
The council period ends on 31 July.
The term of the councils elected in the 2017 municipal elections expires at the end of July. The new council period starts on 1 August 2021. The current city council will later make a decision concerning the time of the first meeting of the new council.
Further information:
Ministry of Justice 29.3.: Act postponing municipal election approved(Link leads to external service)
Elections website of the Ministry of Justice(Link leads to external service)
Municipal elections on the city of Helsinki website
Image: Riitta Supperi/Keksi/Team Finland