Parteilist

Parteilist is a term that describes a list of candidates nominated by a political party for an election. These lists are typically used in proportional representation electoral systems where voters cast a ballot for a party, and the party's success in the election is determined by the overall percentage of votes it receives. The seats won by a party are then allocated to candidates on its list in a predetermined order.

The exact implementation of parteilists can vary. Some systems use a closed list, where the order of candidates is fixed by the party and voters cannot change it. Other systems employ an open list, allowing voters to express a preference for individual candidates within a party's list, potentially influencing the order in which candidates are elected. There are also semi-open list systems that offer a degree of both fixed order and voter preference.

The purpose of the parteilist system is to translate a party's share of the popular vote directly into a proportional share of legislative seats. This contrasts with plurality or majority systems where individual candidates win seats based on local votes, and party lists are generally not used. The use of parteilists aims to ensure that smaller parties have a better chance of representation and that the overall composition of the legislature reflects the electorate's political preferences more accurately.