elektoratet

Elektoratet is a term used in Norwegian, Swedish and Danish political language to denote the electorate—the body of people who have the legal right to vote in elections within a country or region. The electorate typically consists of citizens who have reached the legal voting age and meet residency or other eligibility requirements. Eligibility criteria vary by jurisdiction and may exclude non-citizens, residents without citizenship, or individuals with disqualifications such as certain criminal convictions or loss of legal capacity. The concept is distinct from the general population, since segments may be disenfranchised even while others can participate.

Historically, the electorate in many democracies has expanded from restricted groups to universal suffrage for citizens meeting age criteria. Reforms often abolished property or tax-based restrictions, extended suffrage to women, and standardized voting ages, commonly set at 18. In practice, the size and composition of the electorate are shaped by constitutional provisions, national election laws and administrative rules, leading to differences between national and local elections, as well as between different types of elections. Some jurisdictions allow certain non-citizens to vote in local elections, or temporarily restrict voting rights during imprisonment or other conditions.

In political science and public discourse, the electorate is central to the legitimacy and accountability of government: elections are conducted among the eligible population to determine representation and mandate. Understanding the electorate helps explain how political power is distributed and contested in a democracy.