Municipal and county election results confirmed – Otaniemi turnout 45.7 per cent
The municipal and county elections were held on Sunday, 13 April, and the results of Espoo were also revealed during the election night. Aalto University Student Union’s goal was to increase turnout among its members compared to the previous election and to make the elections more familiar to students.
In the 2021 municipal election, 55.2 per cent of eligible voters in the Otaniemi voting district cast their vote, whereas in the 2025 election, the turnout was 45.7 per cent. Nationwide, the turnout in the municipal elections was 51.7 per cent. Turnout in the county election in the wellbeing services county of West Uusimaa was 53.7 per cent.
As a result of the election, the average age of the Espoo City Councillors decreased by 1,5 years, and the number of councillors under the age of 34 increased by one. The number of councillors aged 35 to 49 increased the most.
In the Espoo election results, the top three parties were as expected: although the National Coalition Party retained its position as the largest party with 28 seats, the most notable shift came from the Social Democrats, which was the party with the largest increase in Espoo, raising its seats in the City Council to fourteen. The Greens also gained one seat, increasing its total to fifteen, and thus remaining the second-largest party in the Espoo City Council. The party that lost the most seats in Espoo was the Finns Party, which dropped four seats.
In Otaniemi, the distribution of votes differed from the overall results in Espoo: the most popular party in Otaniemi was the Greens with 40.2 per cent, followed by the National Coalition Party with 26.5 per cent.
Candidates with AYY background were successful
Several candidates with current or former Aalto backgrounds were elected to the Espoo City Council. Joel Vanhanen (NCP), Peppi Seppälä (Green) and Saara Hyrkkö (Green), with experience on the AYY Representative Council, retained their seats in the City Council. The newly elected candidates also include a number of alumni from Aalto’s predecessor universities.
Otaniemi’s top vote-getter was former Chair of the AYY Board Fanni Mattsson (Green), who was elected as Deputy Councillor to the City Council and as Councillor to the County Council. Former AYY Board Member Marianna Malkamäki (NCP) was also elected as Deputy Councillor to the Espoo City Council.
The most convenient way to check the results and see the elected candidates in Espoo is through Yle result service.
AYY warmly congratulates all the elected candidates in Espoo and the wellbeing services county of West Uusimaa, as well as all the candidates who put themselves out there in the elections. Additionally, thank you to all who cast their vote!
Students’ voice will continue to be heard in the Espoo City Council in the upcoming term.
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