A total of 58,757 Finnish citizens outside of the country cast their votes in the first round of the presidential election at Finland's missions around the world, according to a press release issued by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
The new figure reflected an increase of 6,253 compared to the first round of the presidential election in 2018. Meanwhile, in Finland a record number of advance voters cast their ballot in the first round.
The ministry said international advance voting was arranged at missions in 89 countries and a total of 219 polling stations. A total of 223 crew members voted aboard 50 Finnish-flagged ships at sea, according to the ministry.
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More than 263,000 Finns who permanently live abroad were eligible to vote in this election, the ministry said, citing Population Register Centre data. Eligible voters who were living abroad on a temporary basis were also able to vote at Finnish missions.
The international voter turnout was highest in Sweden with 14,630 advance votes cast, which was more than the 4,295 votes recorded in the country in 2018. A total of 12,577 voters turned out in Spain, while votes were also cast in the US (3,222), the UK (2,998) and Germany (2,849)
Polling stations outside Finland closed on 20 January..
Citizens in Finland go to the polls on 28 January, with advance voting running from 17 to 23 January.
If no single candidate gains 50 percent or more of the vote in the first round, the top two candidates will go to a second round run-off on 11 February.
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