Velgerne

Velgerne (the voters) are the electorate in a democracy. The term is the definite plural form of velger in Norwegian, referring to individuals who have the right to participate in elections and to cast ballots. The concept covers citizens who are eligible to vote and those who actually participate in elections, shaping the mandate of government.

In representative systems, velgerne determine who will govern by casting ballots for parties or candidates. Their aggregate preferences decide the composition of the legislature and, in many cases, which party or coalition forms the government. In Norway, general elections for the Storting are held every four years. The Norwegian system uses proportional representation across multiple constituencies, which tends to produce multi-party parliaments and coalition cabinets. Campaigns, party platforms, and leadership influence voters' choices, while regional and demographic differences create voting patterns.

Voter behavior is a central object of political science. Voter turnout is a key metric and can vary by region, age, and socioeconomic status. Factors that influence decisions include economic conditions, welfare expectations, trust in institutions, political knowledge, and media exposure. Swing voters or undecided voters can be decisive in close elections, and campaigning strategies increasingly leverage digital information environments.

Beyond casting ballots, velgerne participate in politics through party membership, public debate, or demonstrations. Researchers study velgeradferd (voter behavior) and velgerpreferanser (voter preferences) to understand patterns of support. Data sources include polls, election results, and surveys. The concept of velgerne remains central to questions of representation, legitimacy, and policy outcome in modern democracies.