Municipal election gallup: Finnish voting activity may yet exceed that of last election

Some 66% of citizens affirm they will cast ballots

print this

There is a good chance that the Finns' voting activity in the upcoming municipal elections may still exceed that of the disappointing turnout in the previous election held in 2000.
      According to the latest poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup, no less than 66 percent of Finns are determined to cast ballots.
      Sureness of voting has increased significantly since the last poll conducted at the turn of the month, when only 54% of Finns were certain that they would go and vote.
      The latest poll was conducted last weekend during the advance-voting period, and ten percent of those interviewed reported they had already cast their ballots.
      The poll reveals that 17% of the citizens are somewhat sure that they will vote, ten percent are undecided, and seven percent know that they will definitely not be bothering the election officers, thank you.
      The question asked was: "How certain are you that you will cast a vote in the municipal elections held on October 24th (advance voting October 13-19)?"
     
This latest gallup shows that the share of those certain of their decision to vote is four percentage points higher than right before the 2000 municipal elections.
      In 2000, 62% of voting-age citizens declared their intention of voting. In reality, only 56 percent finally made it to the ballot boxes, recording the lowest-ever turnout.
      Persuading young people to use their right to vote continues to prove difficult. Only 40 percent of the 18-25-year-olds are sure of their going to vote.
      Pensioners remain traditionally the most active voters in Finland. As many as 78 percent of the retired are sure that they will cast ballots.
      Women are slightly surer of their voting than men.
      Of followers of different political parties, the Left Alliance (84%) and the National Coalition (78%) supporters were most confident about their decision to go and exercise their right to vote.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Advance voting ends with lengthy lines: More than 90,000 more absentee ballots than in 2000 (20.10.2004)
  Finnish certainty over voting in upcoming municipal elections is declining (30.9.2004)
  Poll: Just over half of Finns plan to vote in municipal elections (31.8.2004)

Links:
  Ministry of Justice Elections Website

Helsingin Sanomat