Electorado

Electorado is the body of people who have the right to vote in a given political system or election. The term can refer to the potential electorate—those eligible by law to vote—and to the effective electorate—those who actually participate in an election. In democracies, suffrage is defined by legal criteria such as age, citizenship, and residency; many jurisdictions have restrictions that can exclude certain groups, while others practice universal adult suffrage.

The size and composition of the electorado influence political strategies, policy debates, and electoral outcomes. Historical expansions of the franchise, such as extending voting rights to women or to previously disenfranchised groups, have reshaped politics by enlarging the electorado and altering its demographic profile.

In practice, analysts study the electorado through polls and demographic segmentation to forecast results and understand voting behavior. Campaigns tailor messages to segments of the electorado, while turnout—the share of the electorado that votes—significantly affects election results. The concept appears in political science and journalism as a way to refer to voters and potential voters rather than to policies or institutions.