Valfræði

Valfræði is the field of study concerned with elections, voting behavior, and the design and analysis of electoral systems. In Icelandic academic usage, it sits at the intersection of political science, public administration, law, and statistics. The central focus is on how electoral rules—such as district size, thresholds, and whether systems are proportional or majoritarian—shape representation, party competition, voter turnout, and government formation. It also covers the administration of elections, ballot design, voter accessibility, and safeguards for electoral integrity.

Scholars in valfræði use quantitative analyses of election results, surveys on political attitudes, and experimental or quasi-experimental methods to understand behavior and outcomes. Comparative studies across countries and time periods are common, as are simulations and modeling to assess potential reform scenarios. Subfields often address topics such as representation and fairness, the design of electoral rules, voting rights and access, and the impact of electoral systems on policy outcomes and stability.

Valfræði informs public policy and legal reform by helping policymakers evaluate trade-offs in electoral design and improve the legitimacy and inclusiveness of elections. It is taught within political science and public administration programs and studied by researchers, election officials, political practitioners, and students who seek to understand how electoral systems influence political life and governance. See also electoral systems, political science, election law, and democratic governance.