Welcome to JEF Finland’s Youth EU Elections page. Here you’ll find all the information related to the elections!
What on earth are the Youth Elections?
This spring, JEF Finland is organising its own EU elections for young people under voting age, where they get to cast their vote for real candidates. The Youth EU Elections will be held in week 20 (13-17 May 2024).
What do you need at the polling place?
The goal is to make the polling place feel as authentic as possible. It’s a good idea to set it up somewhere visible, such as the cafeteria, lobby or hall.
Reserve for the check-in point:
- A table and chairs for the election officials
- Printed Youth EU Election ballot papers
- A name list containing the names of everyone taking part in the election
- Paper and a pen for the second election official
- Pencils
- A printed candidate list for voters to see, showing all the candidates’ numbers
For the voting booth (you can borrow a voting booth from the municipality or build a screen):
- A printed candidate list showing all the candidates’ numbers
- Printed instructions for writing the candidate number correctly
- Pencils
For the voting point:
- A table and chairs for the election officials
- A ballot box, which can be made, for example, from a cardboard box with a lid
- A stamp or marker pen for stamping the cast ballot papers
For vote counting after the election:
- An election record, or paper on which the combined election result is recorded
The election officials’ tasks
Children, young people or staff members can be chosen as election officials. At least four election officials are needed, but it’s a good idea to choose more if possible, so the work can be split into shifts. Tasks can be rotated between the election officials.
At the check-in point, the election officials’ task is to take registrations, mark the voter on the name list, give them a ballot paper, and direct them to the voting booth.
At the voting point, the election officials’ task is to stamp the cover of the folded ballot paper and make sure the voter drops the stamped ballot paper into the ballot box.
Two election officials sit at the check-in point:
- The voter first comes to the check-in point to register with an election official. Their right to vote is checked against a participant list, such as the school’s student register (no ID is required in the Youth Elections). The election official marks the person as having voted, since each participant can only vote once. The number of voters is recorded either from the name list or with a separate tally count (agree on the method with the election official).
- The second election official gives the voter a ballot paper and directs the voter to the voting booth.
In the meantime, the voter goes alone into the voting booth to write the number of the candidate of their choice inside the circle on the ballot paper. The voter then brings the ballot paper to the voting point, to the election officials. If the voter hasn’t yet folded the ballot paper shut, they can be reminded at this stage to do so, so that the election official doesn’t see the number. There can also be a voting assistant at the polling place who, at the voter’s request, helps them write the candidate number on the ballot paper. Only the assistant may enter the voting booth together with the voter at the same time.
The other two election officials sit at the voting point:
- The first election official marks the cover of the folded ballot paper by stamping it (or, for example, marking it with a marker pen).
- The second election official stands by the ballot box, and instructs the voter to drop the stamped ballot paper into the box. There can be a piece of paper over the opening of the box, which the election official moves aside once the voter is ready to drop the stamped ballot paper in. This prevents anyone from dropping a ballot paper into the box before it has been stamped.
The whole voting process in brief
- The voter gives their name to the election official at the check-in point (“Registration”). The election official marks the participant as having voted on the name list. Each voter can only vote once.
- The election official hands the voter one ballot paper and instructs the voter to go to the voting booth.
- The voter goes alone into a free booth (or, if needed, with a voting assistant) and writes the number of their chosen candidate inside the circle marked on the ballot paper. Nothing other than the number is written on the ballot paper. The voter can check the number against the candidate list in the voting booth.
- The voter folds the ballot paper in half so that others cannot see the number. The voter takes the ballot paper to the voting point.
- The election official stamps the cover of the folded ballot paper.
- The voter drops their own ballot paper into the ballot box.
Frequently asked questions
Q: When are the elections held?
A: In week 20 (13-17 May). The organiser is free to choose the election day within that week.
Q: How are the elections organised?
A: The elections are held at schools; the school must register in advance to organise its own election. Instructions will come from JEF Finland in week 18/19.
Q: Where do I get the materials?
A: These are sent at the same time as the other information in week 18/19, to the schools that have registered to take part.
Q: What do the materials include?
A: Ballot papers, election campaign materials in various formats, signs, voting instructions, an election record
Q: When is the candidate list delivered?
A: The candidate list is officially published on 10 May. It will be sent to your email on 12 May.
Q: Who is allowed to vote in the elections?
A: The aim of the Youth Elections is to give minors the chance to experience voting, but the elections are open to all young people, so all students can take part.
Q: When does the election week end / by when must the votes be reported?
A: The election week ends on 17 May at 18:00, so all schools must submit their results by then.
Q: Where do I report the votes?
A: Personal links will be sent to all registered schools, through which you will report your results.
Q: When will the results be published?
A: The results will be published within one or two weeks after the election.