Partilisten

Partilisten is a Swedish term that translates to "party list" or "candidate list" in English. It refers to the roster of candidates that a political party presents for election to a legislative body, such as a parliament or a municipal council. In systems that use proportional representation, voters typically cast a ballot for a party list rather than for individual candidates. The number of seats a party wins is then allocated to candidates on its list based on the party's overall vote share and the order in which the candidates are placed on the list.

The composition and order of candidates on a partilisten are determined by the political party itself through internal procedures, which can vary from party to party. These procedures may involve selection committees, internal elections, or decisions made by party leadership. The placement of a candidate on the list can significantly influence their chances of being elected; candidates higher up the list generally have a greater probability of securing a seat. This aspect makes the internal selection process within parties a crucial element in democratic representation in countries that utilize this electoral mechanism. The concept of the partilisten is central to understanding how votes translate into representation in many parliamentary democracies.