Published 

6.3.2025

Deputy-Ombudsman Maija Sakslin issued reprimands to the electoral commissions of Mäntsälä and Kerava for their seriously reprehensible actions in violation of the Election Act at the special advance voting during the presidential election in 2024. The electoral commissions at the polling stations concerned had consisted of two members, although under the Election Act, an electoral commission has a quorum when three members are present. The deficiencies in the compositions and quorum of the electoral commissions were observed during inspections of special advance polling stations that Sakslin had ordered at healthcare and social welfare institutions.

However, because the unlawful actions did not appear to have affected the casting of the ballot or the outcome of the election, a pre-trial investigation was not required to examine issues concerning criminal liability.

Deputy-Ombudsman Sakslin emphasises that according to the election guidelines issued by the Ministry of Justice, the central election board must ensure – for example, by providing training and disseminating the election guidelines – that the members of the electoral commission are aware of the quorum and their other tasks and responsibilities.

Sakslin also drew the attention of the Sipoo electoral commission to the quorum of the electoral commission. The electoral commission in Sipoo was also planning to use the composition of two members for voting organised on wards. When this had been observed in the inspection, the electoral commission was directed to follow the lawful procedure.

The full text of the Deputy-Ombudsman’s decisions no EOAK/1368/2024, EOAK/1065/2025 ja EOAK/1066/2025 have been published (in Finnish) on the website www.oikeusasiamies.fi.

For more information, please contact Senior Legal Adviser Juha-Pekka Konttinen, tel. +358 9 432 3338.