Curia (electoral curia, la|cūria) is a special category of voters, a class or group of the population, which elects its deputies to representative bodies separately from other classes. Curiae are part of the curial system of elections (class system, rank system).[1] They are distinguished by social status, property, nationality, race, or any other social qualification.
In the Russian Empire, during elections to the State Duma, voters were divided into categories based on property and social status. Each curia elected a set number of deputies — usually regardless of the number of voters in that curia. Several new curiae were additionally organized several times, according to which voters were grouped and voted.
| Electoral law of August 6 1905 | Law of December 11 1905 | Electoral system of June 3, 1907 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 curiae | 4 curiae | 5 curiae | |
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