vaalikohtaiset

Vaalikohtaiset is a Finnish adjective that literally means "specific to a constituency or electoral district." The term is used in Finnish politics to describe candidates, votes, or electoral outcomes that are tied to a particular geographic area rather than to a national party list. In the Finnish parliamentary system, each of the fourteen electoral districts elects a certain number of members to the Eduskunta, the national parliament. Candidates who are elected directly from these districts are referred to as vaalikohtaiset, in contrast to those who enter the parliament through nationwide party lists. This distinction is significant because Finland uses a two‑phase ballot system: voters cast a personal vote for a specific candidate and a party vote that is allocated proportionally across the entire country. Vaalikohtaiset candidates typically receive a larger share of local support, enabling them to secure seats with fewer votes than candidates relying solely on the proportional list.

In parliamentary debates and official reports, the phrase vaalikohtaiset valitut ("constituency‑elected") clarifies that the representatives' mandates derive from local elections. The practice ensures regional representation while allowing small parties to win seats via the proportional system. Finnish electoral law sets the current number of district seats and periodically redraws boundaries to reflect population changes, a factor that influences the number of vaalikohtaiset elected at each election.