ADVANCE VOTING The provincial elections are scheduled to begin in a week’s time, despite the fact that coronavirus infections are increasing at an unprecedented rate in Finland.

Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday pointed out that the postponement of the elections has hardly been discussed, even though the most recent municipal elections were moved from last spring to summer Based on forecasts from the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

In March, the THL estimated that 2,600 to 11,200 infections could be reported on the original election day, April 18th. The motion to postpone the election received the support of all parties except Basic Finns.

On Wednesday, 6,791 new infections were reported in Finland.

Pekka TimonenThe Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Justice, revealed at a news conference yesterday that no party has proposed postponing the election. Arto JääskeläinenA couple of weeks ago, the head of the election administration of the Ministry of Justice considered that postponing the provincial elections was neither necessary nor practically possible.

Dinah ArifullaThe THL expert recalled at the conference that the epidemiological situation differs from last spring in the sense that vaccination coverage is much higher and that mortality has not increased despite the high incidence of infections. He assured that voting can be held safely: voters are encouraged to wear masks and handguns, while polling stations are encouraged to pay attention to ventilation and social distance.

Voters who have contracted the virus, been exposed to it, or experienced symptoms should not come to the polling station but call the number printed on the poster located outside each polling station. A voter can thus fill in a ballot paper, for example, in a booth set up in his car or outside the station, before handing it over to an official, who in turn takes it to the ballot box.

“If you know you have coronavirus, you shouldn’t go to the polling station even if it hasn’t been specifically banned by an infectious disease doctor. Such people should call the number. ” Heini Huotarinen According to Helsingin Sanomat, the Ministry of Justice reported.

No pre-registration is required to vote outside the station, he added. However, anyone who needs special arrangements should make sure they arrive at the station on time.

“It is clear that voting outside also requires more from the voter. The voter must be more active and cooperative than usual. ”

Voting at home is not the preferred option for schedule reasons. Registration for the home poll ends two weeks before election day, Tuesday, January 11th.

Aleksi Teivainen – HT