Kandidatlistor

Kandidatlistor are the formal lists of candidates presented by political parties or electoral alliances in elections. In mixed representative systems, such as those used in many European democracies, each party submits a list of individuals who are eligible to be elected. The order of names on the list is determined by the party's internal selection process, which may involve primaries, conventions, or a central committee election. In some jurisdictions the sequence is strictly binding, while in others voters may alter the list order through preferential voting.

The Swedish system employs both closed and open candidate lists. In a closed list, voters cast a vote for a party, and the seats won by that party are allocated to the candidates in the predetermined order. In an open list, voters may add a preference for a specific individual; if a candidate receives enough personal votes, he or she can leapfrog higher-placed colleagues and secure a seat. The Swedish electoral code specifies the minimum threshold of preferential votes required for such a shift and guarantees that no candidate falling below the threshold can be elected.

In municipal and regional elections, parties often submit short lists to facilitate representative balance. National elections feature longer lists corresponding to proportional representation in the Riksdag. The size of the list correlates with the expected number of seats: a party anticipating multiple seats will usually submit enough names to fill those positions plus a contingency for over- or under‑performance. Each list is printed on the ballot paper, usually with the party banner and the names of the candidates.

The preparation of a candidate list involves legal registration and the public filing of a signed statement by each candidate concerning eligibility and conflicts of interest. Candidates must also pass a registration process that checks compliance with national and local election laws, ensuring they are not barred by disqualification statutes or outstanding legal disputes.

Overall, kandidatlistor function as the bridge between party policy and parliamentary representation, balancing internal party structures with voter preferences and legal safeguards.