Work on the Election Information System is societally important and carefully planned cooperation

LRC's Elections and Other Democracy Services unit does important work on the Election Information System used in all general elections in Finland. The unit has been preparing for the 2024 presidential elections and European elections since spring 2023.

The head of the unit, Systems Manager Anniina Tjurin, says that the Election Information System is owned by the Ministry of Justice and LRC is responsible for its development and technical maintenance together with the Government ICT Centre Valtori and certain subcontractors.

”We work on the elections year round at LRC. We started preparing for the presidential elections and European elections at the same time, in May 2023. The Election Information System is used for everything from registering candidates and registering and calculating votes to result services. ”

According to Tjurin, the period between elections is used for developing the Election Information System.

”I have worked in various duties related to the Election Information System since 2007 and have now held the post of Systems Manager for a couple of years. But you never get tired of working with elections, as every election is unique and there is always room for improvement. It is fantastic to be able to influence such a societally important event through one's own work”, Tjurin says.

A comprehensive overhaul of the Election Information System is also underway, aiming for the deployment of the new Election Information System for the 2027 parliamentary elections.

In the picture are Anniina Tjurin, Mikko Lampo, Sami Kiviharju and Tomas Kindstedt.

Preparing for elections is diverse work

Citizens see and experience the elections through the candidates' campaigning, campaign tents and, of course, by voting in advance or on the actual election day.

The LRC elections unit starts preparing for each election about eight months before the election day.

”We test the system and train and instruct its users. We also prepare for different scenarios together with the Ministry of Justice and other partners. So our work is really diverse”, says Tjurin.

University trainees are always hired for each election. Their work includes answering citizens' questions on the election hotline and running the postal voting support service.

"Very few want to leave”

The LRC elections unit employs roughly 10 people with diverse qualifications and educational backgrounds. The unit's employees include masters of political science and technical experts.

”We have a fantastic team spirit. Everyone has their own strengths that we can tap into. When a person gets into the elections team, they generally don't want to leave”, says manager Tjurin with a smile.

IT designer Mikko Lampo also enjoys working in the elections team, and the 2024 presidential elections are the sixth elections of his career. Lampo is responsible for the Election Information System help desk and the development of the system together with technology suppliers in between elections.

”We shouldn't forget that the actual work is done in the municipalities and electoral districts. We only make sure that the system works as it should”, Lampo says.

According to Lampo, the best part about working on the elections is the feeling that you are doing something important. He is also pleased that he has been able to develop his professional competence between elections and has been given more responsibilities as a result.

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The Legal Register Centre serves as the controller for the key registers of the Ministry of Justice's administrative branch and enforcer of financial sanctions. We at LRC are also responsible for the development and maintenance of the judicial administration's information systems and function as the central IT procurement unit for the administrative branch.