In the municipal elections, the division into municipalities that will come into force at the beginning of 2009 will be observed. Due to municipal mergers that have taken place since the previous election four years ago, councils will now be elected in 332 municipalities instead of 416 at the last elections.

The advance voting will take place on 15-21 October in Finland and 15-18 October abroad. At some of the polling stations the advance voting period will, however, be shorter. The voters can vote in advance at any general polling station in Finland or abroad. There will be a list of candidates at the polling station showing the candidates in the voters' own municipalities.

Information on addresses and opening hours of the advance polling stations can be found on the website www.vaalit.fi. The Ministry of Justice also provides information on advance polling stations on its free telephone service number 0800-157575 (in Swedish 0800-1-38383).

Electronic voting in three municipalities

In the municipal elections of 2008 the Ministry of Justice will for the first time arrange electronic elections in three municipalities. Those entitled to vote in Karkkila, Kauniainen and Vihti, around 34,000 in total, can vote electronically at the polling station either on election day or in advance. Voting on the Internet is not possible.

Electronic voting is presented in greater detail on the election site of the Ministry of Justice www.vaalit.fi.

Additional information: Election Director Arto Jääskeläinen, telephone 09-1606 7572 Ministerial Adviser Jussi Aaltonen, telephone 09-1606 7620
Senior Adviser Jukka Leino, telephone 010 36 64611
e-mail: forename.surname@om.fi