“Your vote is for your eyes only” communications are an integral part of promoting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals through democracy education

“Work for equality and non-discrimination must occasionally refer back to the basics,” says Oskari Hyttinen, Chair of the Equality Committee. “Many of us take democracy, elections and voting for granted, but we have found that these things may not be so easy to understand.”

The committee examined the voting activity of Espoo residents and discovered significant differences between voting districts. During elections, many share pictures and videos of their ballot papers. Although it is not forbidden to photograph your own ballot paper, the secrecy of the vote must, according to the Election Act, be maintained. Inspired by this, the committee created the campaign “Sinun äänesi – vain sinun tietoosi” (“Your vote is for your eyes only”).

“Voting is an important part of being part of a community, it is an opportunity to participate in things and influence them. It is part of our culture and identity and a way of maintaining democracy. Without this tool, well-being could not be achieved,” Oskari adds.

At the end of 2023, there were 74,204 foreign-language speaking residents in Espoo, amounting to 23.6% of the city’s entire population. The share of foreign-language speaking residents is a significant and growing part of the population of Espoo; as much as 85.4% of the population growth in 2023 was due to foreign-language speakers. Multicultural families often speak more than one language and practice different cultures and religions, which enriches life in Espoo.

“Our family communicates in three different languages, which brings versatility and depth to our lives. Although our backgrounds are diverse, the realisation of democracy is the essential glue that holds us all together. Whether your current place of residence or plans for the future are being discussed, we all have a responsibility to contribute to our community. One of the easiest ways to do that is to vote in elections,” says committee member Tereza Dickson.

“Some people abstain from voting either knowingly or because they lack essential information or interest in elections. But even a single vote can significantly change the result of elections. One vote can decide, for example, the distribution of seats in a council and what kind of policies will be implemented after the elections. As a committee we, together with the Central Municipal Election Board, want to make elections and voting more visible and accessible, as democracy education applies to all age groups,” Dickson says.

With your vote, you can change the world around you. It is a means of defending democracy and achieving common goals. The more people vote, the stronger the democracy and sense of belonging.

The Sámi are the only recognised indigenous people in the European Union with a long and rich history that predates the establishment of states. In Finland, the Sámi speak three Sámi languages, and each Sámi group has its own language, customs and traditions.

Since we live in a democracy, the Sámi have self-government concerning their culture and language, the Sámi Parliament, which, as their highest decision-making body, represents the official position of the Sámi and promotes the rights of the Sámi in Finland.

The Sámi can vote in Finnish elections, and the participation of the Sámi in democratic processes is an essential part of a fair and equal society.

“Most of the Sámi youth live outside Sápmi, and the surrounding Finnish society needs to realise this. Which is why it is also important that the Sámi living in cities vote in the Sámi Parliament elections, and also use their vote in all other elections to support democracy,” encourages Janne Hirvasvuopio, a representative of the Sámi Parliament.

Young people are the builders of our future. Their votes are the key to what kind of society we will become. Although voter turnout is low among young people, every young person has the opportunity have their say using their vote.

“Each individual vote has a significant impact on what kind of world we will wake up in the next morning. Thus, I encourage every young person to vote, as it allows them to participate in building a society that reflects them,” says Elif, a representative of the Youth Council.

“It has been a pleasure to highlight Finland’s established election practices and strong sense of ballot secrecy. When I was an election official in spring 2023, I sometimes had to look away suddenly when a voter with a foreign background approached me and the ballot box, holding an open ballot paper showing me who they had voted for. It was then that I realised that the Finnish elections could be an export product, one of the best things that people from other countries can boast about in their home countries around the world. We chose the “Sinun äänesi – vain sinun tietoosi” campaign because we wanted to emphasise the importance of both voting and the principles of the Election Act through clear language and illustrations,” says committee member Antti Jäänvirta.

The campaign Sinun äänesi - vain sinun tietoosi will be piloted in the European Parliament elections and carried out at advance polling stations. Campaign material will also be distributed elsewhere in cooperation with different actors.

The campaign will be developed based on the feedback received. Municipal and regional elections in 2025 will reuse the materials with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of voting in our Finnish democracy.

Respect for diversity and acceptance of multiculturalism are part of several of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals:

• Goal 5: Gender equality –political decision-making reflects diversity and equal opportunities.
• Goal 10: Reduced inequalities – measures to reduce inequalities and promote equal treatment for all people.
• Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions – lays the foundation for peace, justice and strong institutions as all members of the community feel part of society and have the opportunity to participate in decision-making.
• Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities – an essential part of building sustainable and inclusive cities and communities.

The goals emphasise the importance of diversity and multiculturalism in promoting sustainable development and in efforts to create fairer and cohesive societies. The active participation of Espoo’s foreign-language speaking population in democratic processes and decision-making supports the achievement of these goals and demonstrates the city’s commitment to promoting sustainable development.

Further information: https://www.espoo.fi/en/city-and-decision-making/decision-making/elections