electorate

Everyday

1. The electorate is all the people in a country or area who are allowed to vote in an election. tree →
2. (Australia, New Zealand) An electorate is an area that elects one member of parliament, called a constituency in the UK. tree →

In the lessons

In citizenship and politics lessons, the electorate is the voters; politicians try to win over the electorate. In Australia and New Zealand, people talk about «my electorate» meaning their voting district. Common phrases: «the British electorate», «a divided electorate», «appeal to the electorate», «young members of the electorate».

Examples

• The electorate chose a new prime minister. tree →
• Politicians make promises to win the electorate's votes. tree →
• Children are not part of the electorate until they turn eighteen. tree →
• In Scotland, sixteen-year-olds are part of the electorate in some elections. tree →
• Our local member represents a big rural electorate in Queensland. tree →
• Half the electorate did not vote. tree →
• The electorate was split down the middle. tree →

Note

Usually used with «the». It is a group noun: «the electorate is» (in the UK also «are»). Related: «elect», «election», «elector» (one voter), «electoral». In maths problems, the electorate is the total number of voters, and turnout is the part that voted.