SAK urges immigrant members to vote in local elections

The SAK multicultural working group is urging immigrant trade union members and their families to take part in Finland&#;8217s local government elections. The working group echoes the concerns expressed last week by the Finnish government’s Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations (ETNO) that immigrants are failing to cast their votes, even though local councils make many decisions that affect their daily lives. These decisions include setting policies on housing, school education, and arrangements for social welfare and health services.

The electorate for Finland’s local government elections on 26 October 2008 includes all adult citizens of Finland, other European Union countries, Norway and Iceland who are domiciled in Finland. Adult citizens of other countries and stateless persons may also vote if they have been continuously domiciled in Finland for at least two years.

Although the official polling day is Sunday 26 October, it is also possible to vote in advance between 15 and 21 October in Finland and 15 and 18 October abroad. Advance votes may be cast at any advance polling station, so there is no need to return to the district where the voter is domiciled. Voters in Finland may find the nearest advance polling station using the map service at www.navici.fi/vrk (in Finnish and Swedish only) or the lists at www.vaalit.fi/25697.htm (in English).

Votes on polling day must be cast at the local polling station specified in the election notice that was posted to voters some weeks ago.

The SAK multicultural working group seeks to promote lobbying for multiculturalism, and to enhance organisational capacity and co-operation between trade unions and the national labour confederations. SAK trade unions have an estimated 11,000 immigrant members.

For additional election information in English visit www.vaalit.fi/15522.htm.