äänimäärää

Äänimäärää is a Finnish term that refers to the total number of votes received by a party, candidate, or option in an election or public opinion poll. It is a raw tally that complements the vote share, which expresses the proportion of votes out of the total valid ballots. The äänimäärä is typically presented for parties and candidates at different geographic levels, such as the national total, electoral districts (vaalipiirit) and municipalities.

In Finland's parliamentary elections, the sum of a party's äänimäärä in a district helps determine how many seats the party earns in that district using the D’Hondt method. Within the party, candidates accumulate personal votes (henkilökohtaiset äänet) that decide which candidates receive the seats allocated to the party. The total valid äänimäärää is distinguished from invalid or blank ballots (hylätyt äänet), which do not contribute to a party’s or candidate's totals.

To interpret results, analysts also report the vote share, turnout (the number of people who voted), and the distribution of votes among districts. The term is neutral and widely used in Finnish election reporting and official statistics, including by Statistics Finland and the Ministry of Justice.

In summary, äänimäärää denotes the exact count of votes received and is a fundamental figure for understanding election outcomes, party support, and representation, while the share and seat allocation describe how those votes translate into political influence.