According to the election worker, home voters are in worse shape than before. For example, in Lahti, an exceptionally large number of people vote in the parliamentary elections at home.
Voting at home is in some places more lively than usual.
For example, Lahti now has an exceptionally high number of home voters, 123 in total. The number of home voters has clearly increased since the municipal elections, when there were 86 of them.
You can vote at home if the person’s mobility is limited to such an extent that they cannot get to the polling place without unreasonable difficulties.
– Home voting works. It’s amazing that every time at least one other election official is familiar. Having lived in Lahti since 1947, half the city knows it.
\”There are quite a lot of bedridden patients\”
In a city the size of Lahti, home voting is usually carried out in one day, but this year two voting days had to be reserved so that the officials had time to visit the homes of each registered person.
– The condition of those who voted at home has deteriorated. There are bedridden patients who can’t even get up, Häyrinen says.
According to Statistics Finland, in the previous municipal and parliamentary elections, approximately 10,000 people voted from home. There were only about 7,000 of them in the regional elections, because there was no voting in Helsinki.
\”Happiness can be seen in a person’s eyes\”
Two election officials always go to the home voting gig; nobody walks alone with ballots.
Voters are scheduled. The time required for the visit depends, for example, on whether the caregiver is present.
There is also enough time for coffee. Administrators are not in such a hurry.
– Voting is an important matter. Many home voters also go to the hairdresser and put on their best, says Niemi.
You can find more of Yle’s election content on the election page.
*You can discuss the topic until Wednesday 29 March 2023 at 11 pm.*