On 3 April 2025 , legal advisers from the Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman carried out unannounced inspections ordered by Deputy Ombudsman Maija Sakslin at three sites for institutional voting in regional and municipal elections in Pirkanmaa and Kanta-Häme. The inspections aimed to particularly examine how the right to vote is exercised in garrisons training conscripts and in social welfare and health care units providing 24-hour care. They also looked at the safeguarding of ballot secrecy and the smooth running of voting arrangements with two elections being held at the same time. 

Shortcomings were found in the cooperation between the municipal election authorities and the staff of the institutions. At the first site, voting was organised in the canteen of the institution at the same time as people were eating. At the second site, the polling station was a noisy day room. The electoral commission did not discuss the polling station with the staff beforehand. 

At the third site, the municipality had assigned a municipal employee to assist the electoral commission in making arrangements for the polling station, and two voting booths, one of which was accessible, were provided. Deputy Ombudsman Sakslin considered the practice to be good. It ensured the success of institutional voting and safeguarded ballot secrecy.

Promoting, protecting and monitoring the rights of persons with disabilities is a special function of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, based on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Finland has ratified. Inspections therefore seek to draw special attention to accessibility and the possibilities for participation and political rights of persons with disabilities.

The inspection records EOAK/1890/2025 and EOAK/1891/2025 have been published on the website www.oikeusasiamies.fi.