valitsija

Valitsija is a Finnish term meaning elector or voter. In political and legal contexts, it denotes a person who has the right to participate in elections by casting a vote. The word is formed from valita, “to choose,” with the agentive suffix -sija, literally “the one who chooses.” In everyday Finnish, the more common word for someone who votes is äänestäjä, but valitsija appears in formal descriptions of eligibility and electoral rights and is used in statutes and official discussions.

The exact status of a valitsija is defined by electoral law. Eligibility depends on the type of election and current legal provisions, including age thresholds and the eligibility to vote within a given jurisdiction. In practice, a valitsija is someone listed on the electoral roll for a particular election and who may cast a ballot on election day. The concept helps distinguish those who are legally entitled to influence the choice of representatives from those who may be candidates or organizers.

In Finland, as in many democracies, valitsijat participate in elections to choose members of parliament, local councils, and other public bodies, and their votes contribute to the formation of government and governance at various levels. The term underscores the constitutional principle of popular sovereignty and the formal mechanisms by which citizens exercise political power. See also: äänioikeus, äänestäjä, vaalit.