The European Parliament elections are getting closer. If you wish to vote in advance in Finland (for a Finnish candidate) you can do that 14-20 May and if you are residing abroad and voting for a Finnish candidate you can do so 14-17 May. The actual Election Day is 25 May.

The EU elections are somewhat special, as all EU citizens that have turned 18 have the right to vote, regardless if you live in your home country or abroad. If your municipality of residence is in Finland, then you have to inform the Finnish authorities by 6 March if you wish to use your voting right in Finland. No one may vote in more than one Member State of the European Union in the same election.

As a citizen of a Member State of the European Union you will be entered in the register on those with the right to vote in Finland as eligible to vote provided that

1) you still have a municipality of residence in Finland on 4 April 2014

2) you have not forfeited your right to vote in your home State due to a decision on a single civil or criminal case

3) you have, by 4.00 p.m. on 6 March 2014 at the latest, notified the Local Register Office (maistraatti) in writing that you want to use your right to vote only in Finland. You can make the notification by filling in the attached form. http://vaalit.fi/uploads/68s9du2215h.pdf

If you register in Finland as a person entitled to vote, the Population Register Center will inform the relevant authority in your home State of your registration. In this case, your personal data will be removed from the electoral register of your home State.

If you want to vote in the European Parliament elections in your home State, you are not required to submit any notification to the Finnish authorities. Contact your embassy in Helsinki for further information on voting in the elections for a candidate from your country.