Afstemning

Afstemning is a Danish noun with two main meanings. The most common sense is the act of voting in a decision-making process, such as in a legislature, a corporate general meeting, or a club assembly. A secondary sense refers to tuning or adjusting something to achieve a desired frequency or alignment, most often in music, but also in technical contexts.

In the voting sense, afstemning denotes the process by which participants express their preferences on a proposal or candidate. The outcome depends on the voting rules in force: a simple or absolute majority, or other thresholds. Some procedures require a secret ballot, while others are conducted openly. Votes may be written, spoken, or recorded electronically. The result is determined by counting ballots and is usually announced by a chair or secretary. Abstentions may be allowed and can influence the result. In organizations, afstemning is governed by bylaws, statutes, or applicable national or institutional rules; in parliamentary contexts, it may be required by the constitution or standing orders.

In the tuning sense, afstemning refers to adjusting the pitch of notes on a musical instrument or aligning components of a system. In music, it involves tuning strings, reeds, or pipes so that they produce the correct pitches. In technical or engineering contexts, afstemning can mean calibrating instruments, synchronizing signals, or aligning settings to match a reference standard.

The term stems from stemme, meaning to tune or to vote, with af- indicating completion or emphasis of the act. In Danish, afstemning is used in both formal and informal contexts to describe voting and tuning processes.