Parish elections
Want to make a difference in your community? Nominations for the parish elections are now open — join us in shaping the future of your parish. Run for office in the 2026 parish elections.
Parish elections 2026
In the parish elections you can concretely influence what your parish and church will be like tomorrow and in the future.
Why run for office?
In parish elections, people are elected to plan and set the direction for their parish’s activities and finances for the next four years. However, many of these decisions will be carried on for many years to come.
As a parish elected official, you will be involved in:
- Deciding how and where the church and parish funds are used
- Planning parish activities
- Choosing the staff
- Sharing your expertise
- Creating a public image for the church
- Choosing representatives to the synod and the diocesan council
Who can run for office?
You can run as a candidate if:
- you are a confirmed member of the church
- you are of legal age and will turn 18 by November 15, 2026
- you have given your written consent to run as a candidate
- you want to be involved in shaping the future of the church
The candidate may not be an office holder or employee of their own parish or parish union. If you are not yet a member of the church, join in time—your membership must be confirmed by September 15, 2026.
How to run for office
As an elected official, you have the opportunity to make a difference in your local community. Your congregation needs candidates of all ages and with different perspectives.
Join the list of candidates of your parish
Ask current elected officials about your parish’s candidate lists and contact persons. Find out about the electoral group’s themes and goals.
Or start your own electoral group
You can also form your own electoral group if you can’t find a suitable one. Candidates may be nominated by an electoral association that has at least 10 members eligible to vote.
Print and fill out the incorporation documents
You can print the documents yourself at evl.fi. You can also pick up paper copies at the parish.
Choose a representative
Appoint one of the founding members as the group’s representative and another as the deputy. They must not be either candidates or members of the election committee.
Give your list a name and a theme
The name's purpose is to let voters know what are the goals of your group – for example, the renewal of the church, equality or strengthening the position of young people.
Submit the documents by 16:00 on September 15, 2026
The founding document, the representative's warranty and an approval signed by all the candidates must be submitted to the location specified by the parish.
What is an electoral group?
In parish elections, only electoral groups have the right to nominate candidates. A candidate group can be established by at least ten eligible voting members of the parish. The founding documents can be printed from the evl.fi/plus service
The lists are formed by electoral groups, which may have a revival movement or political party background, or be built around a specific theme or worldview. These may be, for example, church reform, promoting equality, or strengthening the position of young people in the church.
The representative and deputy of a candidate nomination group must not be candidates of the group nor members of the electoral committee. Other founders and signatories can be candidates.
Seinäjoki Parish electoral groups 2026
In case you want to become a candidate for the parish elections, you must chose a suitable electoral group whose values you share. Get in touch with the group’s contact persons. Descriptions of the electoral groups (in Finnish) can be found on the side of this text. In case you couldn’t find any suitable electoral group, you can always find your own. You can find the guide above.
Information about electoral groups and their contact persons will be added to this page in the order in which it is submitted to: viestinta.seinajoki@evl.fi
Avara kirkko
The Avara Kirkko Electoral Group is a politically independent group committed to equality and inclusion. During the current term, the group has had three representatives on the Parish Council, one of whom also serves on the Parish Executive Board.
Avara Kirkko emphasises that the parish should be open to everyone and that the wellbeing of children and young people must be placed at the centre of decision-making. Young people should be given genuine opportunities to influence matters that affect them through consultation and participation, including representation in parish governance.
The group promotes an open, transparent, and respectful culture of discussion that strengthens trust, fellowship, and reconciliation within the parish and across wider community networks. In Seinäjoki Parish, Avara Kirkko supports renewal while advocating a governance model in which decision-making on local matters remains in the local areas of Nurmo, Ylistaro, Peräseinäjoki, and Seinäjoki. Administrative structures should be developed more fairly and enable active participation in decision-making for all.
Avara Kirkko is committed to promoting marriage equality, gender equality within the Church, opposing discrimination and racism, including against sexual and gender minorities, improving the accessibility of parish services, and supporting the wellbeing and professional development of employees. The group seeks to represent and support all parish members, including those who participate in parish life only occasionally.
Respect for creation and a sustainable future are important values for Avara Kirkko. The group also wishes to promote peace, ecumenical cooperation, and dialogue between different religions and worldviews.
Follow or contact Avara Kirkko on Facebook, Instagram, or by email: avarakirkko.ep@gmail.com
Contact person: Henna Salo, +358 50 571 8078
National Coalition Party and Independent Representatives Group
Would you like to help build a parish where meaning, participation, and community are at the heart of everything we do? The National Coalition Party and Independent Representatives Group believe that achieving these goals requires both courage and the ability to make thoughtful decisions.
The Church is a community that invites people into relationship with God and with one another. People turn to the Church for answers to life’s big questions, finding comfort in times of sorrow, joy in celebrations, and support in everyday life. From the Church, people are sent out to serve others and care for their communities and the environment. Generation after generation, the Church has provided a lasting foundation for people’s lives, while also adapting to meet the needs of each new era. Through its work, the National Coalition Party and Independent Representatives Group seeks to strengthen this value base, where tradition and renewal go hand in hand, and every person is worthy of respect and care.
The values of the Church also guide the group’s work:
- Faith is trust in God and in the belief that life has a firm foundation.
- Hope is confidence in a better future, both for individuals and for communities.
- Love is expressed in everyday actions through compassion, genuine encounters, and a willingness to help others.
Contact person: Jesse Luhtala, National Coalition Party Municipal Association of Seinäjoki, jesse.luhtala@outlook.com, +358 40 766 5409
Elävät kivet
Our foundation is the Word of God as revealed in the Bible. We uphold Christian values in life: support for the traditional understanding of family and marriage, a living relationship with Christ, the belief that the gospel of Jesus belongs to everyone, blessing Israel, and prayer for the congregation, Finland, and our people.
We want the parish to be a place where people can find a lasting foundation for their lives through faith in Jesus.
Our group is not affiliated with any political party.
Contact person: Ulla Tulisalo, ulla.tulisalo@netikka.fi, 044 9744 134
Social Democratic Party and Independent Representatives Group
Contact person: Petri Raunio, rane393@gmai.com, 045 249 0007.
Frequently asked questions
What do elected representatives decide on?
In parish elections, members of the Seinäjoki Parish Council are elected. They decide, for example, on the parish’s church tax percentage, budgeting, construction projects, grants, selection of the personnel and the focus of the parish’s activity.
The elected representatives also vote in the Church Assembly elections, meaning they select lay representatives to the church’s highest decision-making body.
What is a candidate list?
In parish elections, candidates may only run for office through electoral groups. Like political parties, electoral associations put together their own lists of candidates, which are known as candidate lists. The total number of votes received by the candidate list also affects the final vote count for each candidate.
How many founding members are required for an electoral group?
At least ten eligible parish members may form an electoral group. In addition to the representative and the deputy, at least eight other founding members are required.
Can a founding member of an electoral group run for office?
Yes, a founding member of an electoral association may run as a candidate in an election. However, the representative and his or her alternate may not run as candidates.
Can I run for office in any parish?
You may only run for office in the parish of which you are a member. Your parish is determined by your place of residence. On this page, you can check the parish you belong to by entering your home address in the search field.
Who can vote in the parish elections?
Every member of the church who turns 16 by the election day, November 15, 2026, is eligible to vote. Confirmation or confirmation classes are not required to be eligible to vote.
When do you need to join the church in order to vote?
If you are not a member of the church but are interested in running for office in the parish elections, join the church early. The parish must confirm your membership by September 15. Join the church here.
Can I vote in advance anywhere?
Yes. During the early voting period from November 3 to 7, you can vote at any early voting location for the parish elections, even in another city.
What type of electoral system is used?
The same proportional representation system is used as in parliamentary and municipal elections (D’Hondt method). The result is determined by the number of votes received by the candidate list and the candidate’s personal votes.
Important dates
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15 September – Closing of the nomination of candidates
The founding document, the representative’s warranty and an approval signed by all the candidates must be submitted to the location specified by the parish by 16:00.
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3-7 November – Early voting period
During the early voting period you can vote in any parish’s early voting place – even if it’s in another city.
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15 November – Election day
On election day every voter votes in the place designed by their own parish. The right to vote begins at age 16.
More about the parish elections
You can find more information about the parish elections and how to participate from these links.
A church membership opens the doors to the elections!
Join the church well in advance, so that you can run for office or vote in the parish elections.