Electoral rights of foreign nationals in municipal elections of Finland 🗳️
In municipal elections of Finland, entitled to vote are Finnish citizens who reach the age of 18 years on election day at the latest and reside in Finland. In addition, entitled to vote are:
1) citizens of other EU Member States, Iceland and Norway residing in Finland, under the same conditions as Finnish citizens; and
2) citizens of other states if they have resided continuously in Finland for at least two (2) years on the 51st day before election day, when the voting register for municipal elections is established.
No one needs to separately register to be entered in the voting register for municipal elections. Instead, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency compiles the register by virtue of office, based on the information entered in the Finnish Population Information System for each individual.
Tarik Ahsanullah
I am a 32-year-old lawyer and father. I want to help make Helsinki an even more enjoyable city where everyone has the opportunity to build a life that suits them!
I live in Jätkäsaari with my wife and our young daughter. I have held various positions of trust for over ten years. Taking care of shared responsibilities is meaningful and inspiring to me! I have eight years of experience in Helsinki’s municipal politics, with particular expertise in the urban environment sector.
In my day job, I serve as the Head of Legal at the Finnish Landlord Association. Through my work, I have gained extensive knowledge of the housing market, urban development, and related legislation. I believe that my professional expertise can significantly contribute to city politics as well. In addition to my work in organizations, I have professional experience from the Helsinki District Court and Court of Appeal. In my free time, you can find me on the city’s badminton, tennis, or golf courts or jogging trails.
My core values in politics are justice, honesty, and perseverance. I am a liberal strong supporter of a market economy, and an advocate for individual freedoms. I believe that public authorities should interfere in people’s lives as little as possible. Helsinki thrives best by offering its residents the opportunities to build their lives as they wish.
Urban politics directly impacts every Helsinki resident. In practice, municipal decisions affect, for example, the types of housing available and at what cost. Moreover, decisions made in the city council are key to combating climate change and ensuring the availability of daycare centers, green spaces, and sports facilities. You can find more detailed thoughts on the future of Helsinki in my election program and blog.
Let’s make Helsinki a city that offers experiences, smooth everyday life, and opportunities for everyone!
What do I stand for?
As a city councilor, I would work to make Helsinki the best place in the world to live and build a life that reflects individual preferences. A more enjoyable Helsinki offers even more urban delights – restaurants, events, and experiences. A more livable metropolis provides its residents with better everyday life, where daily routines run smoothly and the downsides of urban development are minimized. I also want Helsinki to offer everyone the best opportunities in Finland to succeed.
A More Enjoyable Helsinki
Let’s develop urban areas to be even denser and more diverse so that Helsinki can offer plenty of high-quality services and urban delights right next to residential areas.
Special attention must be paid to the built green environment, creating spaces that invite residents to spend time outdoors. Let’s ensure that all Helsinki residents have quick access to outdoor trails, parks, and playgrounds. We can better utilize Helsinki’s maritime character by adding more seaside promenades and swimming spots. Bold architecture and a diverse cityscape should be prioritized – let’s make walking the streets of Helsinki a fun experience!
A More Livable Metropolis
We need to accelerate city planning and construction processes so that new areas and services can be made available to residents faster. In urban development projects, more attention must be paid to shortening project durations. The inconvenience caused to residents by street works and other construction must be minimized through smoother temporary arrangements. Let’s continue investing in infrastructure to ensure seamless mobility for all transportation modes in Helsinki. In the city center, the focus should be on walking and public transport.
Every Helsinki resident should have the opportunity to find a neighborhood that suits their lifestyle. It should also be possible to live in detached housing areas in the capital. We should not lose families seeking such homes to neighboring municipalities. Let’s boldly create distinctive residential areas instead of the same semi-dense apartment blocks everywhere. Helsinki should feel like home to everyone. By building denser areas vertically, we can preserve space for more spacious neighborhoods. Residents are the best experts on their areas – let’s bring their ideas to life more quickly!
Keys to Success
Helsinki must offer the best opportunities in Finland for success. Let’s attract families with children by removing daycare fees. We should also ensure that high-quality early education and schools are accessible – daycare centers and schools should be no more than 15 minutes from home.
Helsinki must attract top international talent and be ready to train new experts. Work- and study-based immigration is vital for Helsinki’s success. Immigrants’ integration should be strengthened through more effective Finnish language education and active employment policies!
