röstandel

Röstandel is a term used in Swedish electoral reporting to describe the share of votes that a party, candidate, or option receives in an election. It is defined as the proportion of valid votes that go to that party or option, usually expressed as a percentage.

Calculation is typically Röstandel = (antal röster för part / totala giltiga röster) × 100. The denominator is usually all valid votes cast; blank or spoilt ballots are not included in the calculation. In some reports, turnout or the total number of voters is reported separately.

Interpretation: A röstandel indicates relative support among voters who cast valid ballots, but it does not by itself determine how many seats a party wins. Seat allocation depends on the electoral system and thresholds. The same röstandel can yield different seat shares under different rules, especially in systems with district representation or national proportional representation.

Usage: In official results and media descriptions, röstandel is shown alongside the vote totals and, in many cases, the number of seats won. It is used to compare party support across parties and over time, and to analyze shifts in public opinion between elections.

See also: election result (valresultat), mandate (mandat), proportional representation (proportionellt valsystem), turnout (valdeltagande).