Who administers direct democracy mechanisms at the national level?

ELECTION ACT

(Adopted 1998; amended 2004)

http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1998/en19980714.pdf

Ch. 2, Section 10 ? Consideration of election affairs in the Council ofState

In the Council of State, the Ministry of Justice shall act as thehighest election authority.

Ch. 3, Section 18 ? Establishing the voting register and the informationcontained in this

The Population Register Centre shall establish a register at least46 days prior to the polling day in which each person is entered who, accordingto the Population Information System, has the right to vote in the upcomingelections (voting register).


ACT ON PROCEDURE FOR CONSULTATIVE REFERENDUM
(Adopted1987)
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/1987/19870571

Section 3, sub-section 1: Valtiollisten vaalien vaaliviranomaisetovat ??nestysviranomaisina kansan??nestyksess?.


CITIZENS' INITIATIVE ACT
(Adopted2012)
http://??www.??finlex.??fi/??fi/??laki/??alkup/??2012/??20120012

Section 9 - Verification of statements of support
The representative shall submit the statements ofsupport to the Population RegisterCentre, which verifies their validity.

The Ministryof Justice shall submit the statements of support collected through theonline service it administers to the Population Register Centre for verificationupon request of the representative.

The Population Register Centre shall certify thenumber of valid statements of support. (?)

Section 10 - Competent authorities in duties relatedto the European citizens' initiative
In Finland, the competent authority referred to inArticle 15(1) of the Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 of the European Parliament andof the Council on the citizens' initiative is the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority. Thecompetent authority referred to in paragraph 2 of the above-mentioned Articlein Finland is the Population Register Centre.

Ministry of Justice Website

(http://www.vaalit.fi/33848.htm)

Population Register Centre Website

http://www.vrk.fi/default.aspx?id=16

OptionalReferendum

- Ministry of Justice, Election Unit

- Ministry of Finance, Population RegisterCentre

AgendaInitiative

- Ministry of Justice

- Ministry of Finance, Population RegisterCentre

- Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority

TheElection Unit within the Ministry of Justice is the highest body responsiblefor administering national elections and referenda.

ThePopulation Register Centre (PRC) operates under the Ministry of Finance and isinvolved in preparing the voting register for national elections and referenda.The PRC also verifies signatures for agenda initiatives.