News

Can I Vote? – an online tool for spreading the word about local democracy in Finland

Students from Aalto University and TAMK have joined with YLE to create an online tool that helps to determine whether one is able to vote in the local elections.
Can I Vote?

In the 2017 local elections, voting turnout was only 23.9 percent among eligible voters whose native language was not Finnish, Swedish or Sami. The overall voting turnout was 57.5 percent. In most cases, people living in Finland can vote regardless of citizenship.

"In 2017, YLE published an infographic with the eligibility criteria online, and it was wildly popular," said Egan Richardson, a journalist at the English language unit at YLE News. "We wanted to make it bigger and better and more effective this time."

Can I Vote? asks a series of questions based on residency status and home address to figure out voting eligibility. It then directs users to a selection of resources that can help inform them about the local elections.

YLE outreach team proposed an idea for raising voting awareness through social media during a course at Aalto University, and through that course Boeun Kim, a student from Aalto Media Lab, was connected to Richardson to collaborate on this project.

The team:
Boeun Kim, Aalto Media Lab – Design Lead
Ukko Alatalo, TAMK – Graphic Design
Mohamed Sallam, TAMK – Web Development
Šimon Lackovič, TAMK – Web Development

Check your voting eligibility .

  • Updated:
  • Published:
Share
URL copied!

Read more news

Ahmed Othman and Shreeram Pillain at Oropa, Italy
Awards and Recognition Published:

ACME at Unite! Research School 2026

Ahmed Othman and Shreeram Pillai participated in Unite! Research School 2026 in Torino and Oropa, Italy, joining an international doctoral programme focused on interdisciplinary collaboration, research communication, and academic development.
Two people flying a kite outside with a modern building in the background. One wears a yellow shirt, the other a red jacket.
Cooperation, Research & Art, University Published:

Strong results from the Research Council’s winter call

A total of 54 Aalto researchers received Academy Research Fellow or Academy Project funding from the Research Council of Finland. The total funding awarded University amounts to 33.2 million euros.
Aalto University circular economy exhibit with wood panels, display tables, samples and black and pink clothing.
Research & Art Published:

Aalto University’s solutions at the New European Bauhaus Festival support the EU’s ambition to become world leader in circular economy

Aalto University presented several different circular economy solutions at The European Commission’s New European Bauhaus Festival in Brussels. The event brought together leading names in EU policymaking, researchers, designers and grassroots actors from across Europe to shape a more sustainable future.