Finland was still under Russian rule. After general strike (1905) Finland achieved universal suffrage, men and women regardless of wealth were entitled to vote. In the first general elections it was the most important task of the Finnish Social Democratic Party to stress the importance of the elections and get people to the polls. This objective was achieved: voting turnover was over 70 per cent and social democrats won 80 seats.
The main issue in the 1916 elections was crofters. Social democrats won the elections and received 100 seats.
The campaign in autumn 1917 was very fervent and bitter. The aim of social democrats was to free the country from the guardianship of Russian bourgeoisie and to transfer the power to the parliament. The statements of the Party Council talked about "the elections of revolutionary democracy". Most important election posters were designed by Otto Wille Kuusinen who later was in important position in Moscow. Social contradictions grew and a most brutal civil war broke out in 1918. This led to the split of labour movement to social democrats and communists.
Finland had gained independence in late 1917. In the 1922 elections it was for the first time possible to choose between social democrats and communists because the Finnish Socialist Workers' Party participated in the elections. The campaign was characterized by internal battle of the labour movement. The election manifesto of SDP included detailed promises of social political reforms.
In the 1924 the SDP posters had for the first time a more positive, optimistic tone. The role of the party as a reformist one had become clear and the party concentrated on bringing forth practical reforms. A sharp overall condemnation of capitalism was pushed into the background.
For SDP the 1927 elections were the first in which the party participated as a government party. SDP was confident and had a fairly good success. Social democratic electorate had accepted Tanner's minority government.
The point of social democratic election platform was to oppose bourgeois reactionary policies and the rising Lapua Movement and to condemn policy of adventure of the communists. Lapua Movement was a non-parliamentary fascist movement that got its name after its birth-place. SDP returned to a more traditional socialist symbolism and language. (The other poster says Mother, vote for us)
In both the 1930 and 1933 campaigns SDP fought for democracy and rule of law against right-wing radicalism and Patriotic Popular Movement, an extreme right-wing party. SDP's victory in 1933 elections meant a political turning point, right-wing radicalism began to die down.
In the 1936 elections the objectives of SDP were to raise wages, to implement social insurance system and to make taxation more just. The very idea of Swedish folk-home: to secure welfare for all, was visible in the posters. (For the future of our homes, for working-class mothers and children.) SDP did well in the elections.
In the 1939 elections the objective of the party was peace, keeping the country outside the war, neutrality and nordic orientation. The posters radiated optimism and a strong faith in the future. (For democracy; Working people to polls; Let the country flourish; Build future.)
SDP prepared for the 1945 elections in a confused situation. Candidates and voters were flowing to the newly founded Democratic League of the People of Finland, a strictly communist-dominated party. Young comrades-in-arms socialists had become central designers of the policies of the party.
SDP started a purposeful struggle against communists after the 1946 extraordinary Party Congress. The campaign was named "Fighting social democracy" and its most legendary manifestation was the poster "We have had enough" from spring 1947. We have had enough -campaign was directed to the 1947 Congress of Central Trade Union and municipal elections, but unofficially the campaign went on until general elections in summer 1948. The poster says: we have had enough of
According to General Secretary Väinö Leskinen general elections in 1948 was "everybody's war against everybody". The main point in SDP's propaganda was anyhow directed against the unpatriotic activities of communists and with success. SDP was introduced as a safe and encouraging alternative. (Straight forward.)
In the 1951 elections confrontation between bourgeoisie and socialists appeared clearly.
In 1954 elections the main opponent was the Agrarian Party. General Secretary Leskinen formed the winged themes of SDP: "Cross the hegemony of the Agrarian Party" and "Cut short Kekkonen's way to power". Kekkonen was then Prime Minister and the strong man of the Agrarian Party. He became President in 1956 and held the office for 25 years.
In the 1958 elections SDP demanded turn of economic politics and increase of industry. Left in opposition SDP demanded 50 000 new jobs and introduced a detailed programme for industrialization. (From the way of forced rule to parliamentarism)
After the note crisis of 1961 SDP headed for elections upright with a theme "We choose freedom". SDP was badly out in the cold and election campaign was further hampered by the party split: Social Democratic Union of Workers and Small Farmers participated for the first time in 1962 elections.
SDP built an enormous campaign. NOW SDP posters were out in six versions. Election platform was crystallized into 8-point programme and the result was a "blood-stopping" victory which meant an end to the long opposition period. Since then SDP has been in government almost unceasingly and built Finnish welfare society.
In the 1972 elections SDP demanded reducing of differences in incomes and control by society of profits of big companies.
The central theme of the 1979 elections was economic stimulation and increase in employment. SDP introduced i.e. the idea of social guarantee for young people which was to secure all young a right to job, practical training or higher education.
In municipal elections universal suffrage was applied for the first time in 1919. Before that the right to vote was dependent of wealth.
The first posters are from different municipalities. From 1960 on the posters were nation-wide.
Text: Working people in Turku, up to elections
Text: Smallholder and workman in Koskenpää
What will you do?
Will you help yourselves or your adversary the bourgeoisie?
Text: Don't vote for bourgeois lists 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 9
Vote for social democratic lists 7 or 8
Smallholder and workman in Teisko
Cross the bourgeoisie's intended conquest of the municipal councils
Text: Municipal power to working people
Text: Hand of the people to steer Helsinki
Text: Municipal power to working people
Text: We have had enough!
Nation rises with the strength of social democracy
Text: Houses, work, security
Text: Progressive Tampere
Text: With the people - for the people. Vote for the lists 146-220
Text: SDP - the key to solution of problems
Text: SDP builds
What is the question in the municipal elections
Text: Forward in a sustainable way
Text: Forward towards equality
Text: Build with SDP
Text: Forward together
Text: More human work - less concrete
Text: I wonder who's taking care of me today?
Text: Foot off the brake, get Finland off to a start
Text: Finnish line is tenable
Text: Vote for services
Presidential election was a two-phase election until 1994. Voters elected a 300-member Electoral College which in turn elected the president.
Text: Up to the polls on the 15th - 16th of January
Väinö Tanner
Tanner won the biggest electoral group, 90. Conservative candidate Svinhufvud was elected.
Väinö Tanner for president
Vote for Social democrats
Tanner won again the biggest group, 95, but in order to ensure that Svinhufvud will not be re-elected they voted for Kallio (Agrarian party), who was elected. SDP returned to government after 11 years.
Don't give up! Deeds speak
Social democracy
SDP did not nominate own candidate but supported Paasikivi (Conservative) to ensure his re-election.
Fagerholm>
Man of the people to lead the people
Kekkonen won Fagerholm by one vote.
Paasio for president
Rule of law - Democracy - Freedom
Power to Finnish people
Social Democratic Party
In the election after note crisis Kekkonen won 199 electors, Paasio 37.
Statesman, president
Electoral alliance for Urho Kekkonen
All importatnt parties (excl. Conservatives) formed electoral alliance for Kekkonen and he won 201 electors.
UKK - Confidence over borders
Towards a secure tomorrow, social democrats
Four small parties had own candidate, all the others supported Kekkonen, who won 259 electors.
Whole nation's Koivisto for president
The Finnish people elect the President of the Republic
Vote Mauno Koivisto for president
After the long period, 25 years, of Kekkonen in office the nation wanted a different kind of president, sort of anti-Kekkonen and Koivisto fitted in the role. He won 144 electors and support from other groupings and was elected.
Mauno Koivisto - direct
If any candidate had received over 50 % of the votes he would have been elected direct. Koivisto won 46,6 % and 144 electors. He was re-elected.
A good president can also listen and arbitrate
Martti Ahtisaari
Direct two-round election was introduced. In the second round Ahtisaari got 53,9 % of the votes and was elected.
Tarja Halonen
Entirety is decisive
Halonen campaigned with distinct social democratic themes. She got 53,0 % of the votes in the second round and was elected the first female president of Finland.