Stemmevekten

Stemmevekten refers to the influence attached to an individual vote in decision-making processes where votes do not carry equal weight. In weighted voting systems, each vote has a numerical weight, and outcomes are determined by the sum of weights rather than by counting ballots alone. The weights are set by rules chosen for the system and can reflect ownership, stake, membership, or predefined categories.

In corporate governance, voting weight is typically proportional to the number of shares owned, giving larger shareholders greater influence. In other contexts, weights may represent representation of different regions, stakeholder groups, or other criteria, with rules that ensure the total weight aligns with the intended balance of influence. Some systems employ weighted majorities, possibly with different thresholds for various kinds of decisions or for distinct classes of votes.

Implementation often involves transparency about how weights are calculated and when they apply, as well as safeguards to prevent distortions of minority interests. Critics argue that weighted voting can undermine the principle of political equality and concentrate power in a subset of participants, while proponents contend that it better reflects stake, responsibility, or regional importance in collective decisions.

Examples include shareholder meetings where resolutions pass based on the sum of weighted votes corresponding to shares, and organizational or governmental schemes that combine weight with thresholds to determine legitimacy of outcomes. Stemmevekten, therefore, denotes the relative power of individual votes within a system that assigns unequal influence, shaping governance and strategic decisions.