The next municipal elections of Finland will be held on 13 June 2021. On that day, voters can choose who they want to represent them in our city council for the next four years. Councillors make decisions about concrete matters that impact our daily lives, such as schools, child day care, matters related to the urban environment and construction as well as services related to physical exercise and well-being. In Joensuu, 59 municipal councillors will be elected to start their work next September.

Who can vote?

• all citizens of Finland and other EU Member States, Iceland and Norway who have reached the age of 18 no later than on the election day and whose place of domicile is Joensuu on 26 February 2021
• citizens of other states whose place of domicile is Joensuu on 26 February and who have been domiciled in Finland for two continuous years on the election day
• persons employed by the EU or an international organisation operating in Finland and whose place of domicile is Joensuu on 26 February, provided that their information has been stored in the Population Information System and that they have informed the Digital and Population Data Services Agency about their wish to vote in the municipal elections by the latest on 25 February.

Where and when can I vote?

• If you have the right to vote, you will receive a polling card in the mail to your home address. If you use the Messages service of the Suomi.fi online service, you will only receive an electronic notification of your right to vote. If for some reason you have not received the polling card, contact the Digital and Population Data Services Agency for assistance.
• You can vote on the actual election day on 13 June or in advance in Finland on 26 May - 8 June and abroad on 2–5 June.
• On the actual election day, 13 June, you can only vote at the polling station that has been assigned to you in the Voting Register. The information about your polling station can be found on the polling card and on the Suomi.fi online service. Voting is open on 13 June from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• You can vote in advance at any advance polling station, also outside of Joensuu. The polling card includes a list of the voter’s advance polling stations nearby.
• In order to vote, bring a personal identification document with a photo, such as your passport, identity card or driving licence.
• If you do not have a personal identification document, you can obtain a temporary identity card from the police station in order to vote. When collecting the temporary identity card, you must bring a passport photo with you.

You can vote from home

You can vote in advance from home if your ability to move or function is limited to the extent that you will not be able to access the polling station without unreasonable difficulty. When voting from home, a family carer living in the same household can also vote. Inform the Central Election Committee about your intention to vote from home no later than by 4 p.m. on 6 April by sending the notification form to the address Penttilänkatu 7–9, P.O. Box 59, FI-80101 Joensuu, or by calling +358 (0)50 303 1215 or +358 (0)50 441 5662. You can get the notification form at the address https://vaalit.fi/aanestaminen-kotona.

Information about the elections in different languages:
https://vaalit.fi/en/information-about-the-municipal-elections-in-different-languages