Kandidatlista

Kandidatlista is a list of candidates that a political party or electoral alliance presents for a specific election within an electoral district. The concept is used in proportional representation systems where the number of seats a party wins depends on its total vote share, and the candidates on the list fill those seats in a defined order.

Usually the list contains a ranking of candidates, from first to last, determining which individuals are elected as seats are allocated. Depending on the electoral system, voters may vote for the party as a whole or may cast a preference vote for individual candidates to influence the order of the list. The final allocation of seats inside the list is handled according to the applicable electoral formula in that jurisdiction, which may vary from one country to another.

Different formats exist. In closed lists the party determines the order and voters cannot alter it; in open or semi-open lists voters can influence ranking through preference votes. The rules for candidate eligibility, how lists are submitted, and deadlines are defined by electoral law in each jurisdiction.

Kandidatlistor are common in national, regional, and municipal elections in countries that use proportional representation. They play a central role in candidate selection processes, party strategy, and voter choice, and they are subject to oversight by an electoral authority to ensure legitimacy and transparency.