Eleitor

Eleitor is a term used in Portuguese-speaking contexts to denote a person who has the right to vote in elections. In everyday usage, it refers to an individual who is registered and legally eligible to participate in national, regional, or local elections. The word derives from Latin elector, meaning one who selects or chooses. The feminine form is eleitora, and the plural is eleitores.

Eligibility and registration vary by country but commonly include citizenship, a minimum age (often 18), and residency in the voting jurisdiction. In many places, electors must be registered, either before an election or when they reach the eligible age. Rights can be restricted for reasons such as loss of civil rights due to crime, or disqualification by law.

Role and participation: Electors cast ballots to choose representatives, approve referenda, or decide on questions presented by government authorities. The size of the electorate—often referred to as the eleitora or electorado—helps determine the democratic legitimacy of outcomes. Some jurisdictions maintain mechanisms like early voting, absentee ballots, or biometric verification to manage participation and integrity.

Geographic notes: The term is widely used across Portuguese-speaking countries, including Portugal, Brazil, Angola, and Mozambique. Electoral rules differ: for instance, Brazil has mandatory voting for most citizens aged 18 to 70, while Portugal treats voting as voluntary. In all cases, the concept emphasizes the public’s political will expressed through individual ballots. The idea of the elector is distinct from that of an electoral college member, which in some contexts is called an elector but represents a different role.