Ehdokaslista

Ehdokaslista is a term used in parliamentary systems to describe the list of candidates nominated by a party or group of parties to run in an election. The list typically includes the party's officially endorsed nominees for legislative seats, and is used to determine the order in which the candidates will be elected.

In many countries, including Finland, parties are required to submit their lists of candidates to the election authorities before the election. The list must meet certain formal requirements, such as the inclusion of a certain number of nominees and the provision of personal data about each candidate.

The Ehdokaslista is intended to allow voters to support a party's entire platform and slate of candidates, rather than simply voting for individual candidates. However, voters may still vote for specific candidates on the list, and the system is not strictly ranked-choice.

The Ehdokaslista system is used in various forms of proportional representation, where seats are allocated to parties based on their share of the national vote. In single-member districts, the top candidate on a party's list may be elected as the legislator for that district.

Advantages of the Ehdokaslista system include increased voter transparency and a clearer understanding of a party's platform and priorities. However, critics argue that the system can lead to a "tactical vote" strategy, where parties prioritize listing certain candidates to maximize electoral support.

Overall, the Ehdokaslista is a key feature of parliamentary election systems, reflecting the parties' strategic decisions and the voters' preferences.