Electoral money collection

Electoral money collection means money collection campaigns held to support candidates standing for public elections. Electoral money collection campaigns may be held without a money collection permit or notification of a small-scale money collection provided certain legal requirements are met:

• The electoral money collection campaign is held to support a candidate standing for public election
• The funds raised are used to cover the costs of the candidate’s election campaign
• The campaign organiser is either a political party or an association established solely to support the candidate concerned
• The funds are raised during the official campaigning period

This means an electoral money collection campaign can be held for the benefit of a candidate standing in general, municipal, county, presidential or European Parliament elections. An electoral collection campaign may raise funds solely to cover the costs of the candidate’s election campaign.

A political party or an association established solely for the benefit of the candidate concerned may hold an electoral money collection campaign. Additionally, unregistered support groups and electoral alliances may hold small-scale money collection campaigns to raise money to support their candidate.

Under no circumstances may candidates raise funds for themselves. 

No permit or notification of a small-scale collection is required for electoral money collection during the official campaigning period. The campaigning period begins six months ahead of the election day and ends two weeks after the election day. If there are plans to start money collection before the start of the campaigning period or to continue it afterwards, a money collection permit or notification of a small-scale money collection is required.

A money collection permit or notification of a small-scale money collection is required also if money is collected for purposes other than to cover the costs of the election campaign.

Accounting for electoral money collection campaigns

Accounts for electoral money collection campaigns are submitted to the National Police Board. It is mandatory to submit accounts whenever an electoral money collection campaign has been held where the public are asked for donations. Accounts must be submitted regardless of whether the candidate was elected or not. Accounts must also be submitted for campaigns even if few or no funds were raised.

Accounts must be submitted within two months of the end of the money collection campaign and must provide the following information:

• the organiser of the electoral money collection campaign
• the proceeds of the electoral money collection campaign
• information about the use of the funds raised
• itemised costs incurred from holding the electoral money collection campaign
• the period during which the electoral money collection campaign was held
• an account statement or other reliable evidence of the use of the money collection account during the campaign period.

If the organiser of the electoral money collection campaign has an auditor, an auditor’s opinion must be attached to the accounts.

Email the accounts and attachments to arpajaishallinto@poliisi.fi or send them by regular mail to:

National Police Board
Gambling Administration
PO Box 50
11101 Riihimäki