Kuvaalukset

Kuvaalukset is a term that refers to the electoral districts or constituencies used in Finnish parliamentary elections. These districts are established by law and are designed to ensure that electoral representation is distributed geographically across the country. The number and boundaries of these electoral districts have been subject to change over time, reflecting demographic shifts and political considerations.

The primary purpose of kuvaalukset is to allocate seats in the Eduskunta, the Finnish Parliament. Each electoral district is allocated a certain number of seats based on its population. This allocation is reviewed periodically to maintain proportionality. During elections, voters cast their ballots within their designated kuvaalukset, and the seats for that district are then distributed among the candidates and parties based on the votes received.

The system aims to balance national representation with regional considerations. While the overall aim is proportional representation based on national vote share, the kuvaalukset system introduces a degree of local representation. This means that a party's success in a specific district can influence its overall seat count, even if its national vote share might suggest a different outcome. The electoral districts are a fundamental component of the Finnish electoral process, shaping how votes are translated into parliamentary representation.