Landeslisten

Landeslisten, in German electoral terminology, are state-level party lists used in proportional representation systems to determine how many seats a party receives from a given Land (state). They are published by political parties for each of the 16 German states and consist of ordered candidates who would enter parliament if the party gains a corresponding share of votes in that state.

In federal elections for the Bundestag, the electoral system combines first votes for individual constituencies with second votes for parties (Zweitstimmen). The number of seats a party receives in a state is derived from the party’s share of Zweitstimmen in that state, and those seats are filled by candidates from that party’s Landesliste in the order specified on the list. Directly elected representatives (Erststimme winners) also enter the Bundestag, and their seats are added to the party’s total; remaining seats are allocated from the Landesliste. If the overall distribution creates overhang or leveling seats at the federal level, seat numbers are adjusted accordingly.

Landeslisten are also used in state-level elections (Landtage), where each party again presents a Landesliste for the state. The proportion of seats allocated to a party within the Landtag follows the state’s electoral law and is filled from the Landesliste in the listed order. The composition and ranking on Landeslisten are determined by party bodies and can include internal rules such as rotation or tiered candidacy.

Overall, Landeslisten serve to translate regional party support into parliamentary representation, ensuring proportionality within the framework of Germany’s federal and state electoral systems.