constituency / electoral district
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constituency
A geographically defined area whose eligible voters elect one or more representatives to a parliament or another political representative body.
Die Politikerin wurde mit großer Mehrheit in ihrem Wahlkreis wiedergewählt.
The politician was reelected by a large majority in her constituency.
The word is made up of 'Wahl' (election) and 'Kreis' (district/circle). So it literally describes an area, a 'Kreis' (district/circle), in which a political election takes place.
Jeder Wahlkreis sendet einen Abgeordneten ins Parlament.
Each constituency sends a representative to parliament.
In a political context, this noun is often used with certain verbs. Typical phrases are: 'in einem Wahlkreis kandidieren' (to run in a constituency), 'einen Wahlkreis gewinnen' (to win a constituency), or 'einen Wahlkreis vertreten' (to represent a constituency).
Er hofft, seinen Wahlkreis bei der nächsten Wahl wieder zu gewinnen.
He hopes to win his constituency again in the next election.
Pay attention to the prepositions. You live or vote 'in' einem Wahlkreis (in a constituency; dative). A politician runs 'für' einen Wahlkreis (for a constituency; accusative).
In meinem Wahlkreis gibt es fünf Kandidaten.
There are five candidates in my constituency.
district
Both words can refer to a geographically defined area that may also be used for elections. Wahlkreis is the usual term in the German electoral system for an area that elects representatives. Distrikt is more general and is more likely to refer to certain foreign or institutional divisions.
Bei der Bundestagswahl gehört unser Ort zu einem großen Wahlkreis.
In the federal election, our town is part of a large constituency.
In diesem Land wählt jeder Distrikt einen Vertreter für das Parlament.
In this country, each district elects one representative to parliament.
