How can you "Use Your Vote"?

Information for Finnish citizens living in Ireland

I'm a Finnish citizen living in Ireland. Can I participate in the 2009 European Elections?

Yes, you can participate in the European Elections 2009. You have two options:

You can vote in the European Elections in Ireland
or
You can vote in the European Elections in Finland

Please be aware that you can only choose one of the above options.

How can I participate in the European Elections in Ireland?

You can participate in the European Elections 2009 in Ireland, if

You are citizen of an EU Member State,
Were 18 years or older on the day of the Elections,
Have been resident in Ireland since before 1 September 2008 and
Are enrolled on the voting register the "Irish Register of Electors".

If you have registered in Ireland previously you can check if you are registered to vote in the European Elections at the offices of the registration authority and at public libraries, post offices and Garda stations(during working hours). You can also check the register online at www.checktheregister.ie.

If you are not already included in the Register for Electors, you can apply for entry into the supplement to the register. To do so you have to fill in an application form (RFA2), which you can obtain from you City/County Council or download from the "check the register" website (http://www.checktheregister.ie/Portals/128/RFA2%20English%20-%20form.pdf)

As an EU citizen you also have to fill in a form for registration as a European Elector (Form EP1) which you can obtain from your City/County Council or download from the following website: http://www.dlrcoco.ie/gp/European_Elector_Form.pdf

Your application form (RFA2) must be witnessed by a member of the Garda Síochána or, if you cannot go to your local Garda station, by an official of your local county or city council provided you state the reason why you were unable to attend a Garda Station.

Your application for entry in the supplement has to be received by your responsible registration authority at least 15 working days before polling day in order to be considered for the European Elections. Therefore your application has to be received by 18 May 2009.

Be aware:
You can only vote in one country
Ireland OR Finland

You can vote in the European Elections in Finland...

You are a Finnish citizen,
Aged 18 years or older on the day of the Elections,
Are in full possession of your voting rights in Finland and
Are enrolled with the voting register in Finland.

How can I check if I'm registered in the voting register and how can I enrol? Is there a deadline for registration?

The Population Register Centre compiles a computer register of everyone entitled to vote (voting register) 46 days before the day of the Elections. This registers contains information on voters (e.g. name, personal number, electoral district, municipality of residence, and polling station) extracted from the Population Information System 51 days before election day.
The voting register is publicly available at the local register office (maistraatti) from day 41 before Election Day. In addition, everyone in the register is sent a notice of his or her right to vote (information card) not later than 24 days before Election Day (14 May). The card states e.g. the day of the elections, the days for advance voting, the address of the polling station of the recipient, and the addresses and telephone numbers of the election authorities. The voting register is later used to print out electoral rolls for the polling stations on the day of the Elections. Claims for correction of the register have to be submitted to the local register office not later than 16 days before the day of the Elections (22 May). A correction may be demanded e.g. if somebody considers that he or she has without cause been left out of the register or that the information in the register is incorrect. The contact addresses for local registrar office (maistraatti) can be found at www.maistraatti.fi.

How can I vote in the European Elections in Finland?

To participate in the European Elections in Finland you can vote in advance in the Embassy of Finland during the following times:

27 May: 10am - 5pm
28 May: 10am - 7pm
28 May: 10am - 5pm
30 May: 11am - 5pm

You can also find more information on addresses of voting and polling stations' and opening times at www.vaalit.fi/teksti/21958.htm.

Where can you find more information?

You can find more information on the website of the Ministry of Justice (www.vaalit.fi) or you can get in contact with the Finish Embassy in Ireland:

Embassy of Finland
Russell House, Stokes Place
St. Stephen´s Green
Dublin 2
Ireland
Tel. : (01) 478 1344
Fax: (01) 478 3727
E-mail: sanomat.dub@formin.fi
Website: www.finland.ie

You can also download the information provided on this webpage as an information flyer