kansanvaalilla

The Kansanvaalilla (People's Vote) is a Finnish general election for parliamentary representatives where the entire electorate participates in nominating candidates rather than using predetermined party lists. It was first introduced in 1958 and has been used during a handful of elections (1958, 1970, 1973, and 2007). The system deviates from the usual proportional representation model by allowing voters to rank individual candidates from any party or independent lists in any order. The counted votes are converted into seat allocations through the d’Hondt method, but the votes directly indicate voter preference for specific people.

The initiative aimed to increase individual accountability and reduce party discipline, giving voters the freedom to support candidates on a personal basis. Critics argue that the approach can lead to strategic voting and the election of less experienced candidates. Supporters claim it can provide a more direct link between parliamentarians and constituents. The 2007 parliamentary election, the most recent instance of Kansanvaalilla, saw mixed results: parties such as the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party retained most of their seats, but several independents and smaller parties gained representation. Although not reinstated in subsequent elections, the Kansanvaalilla model remains a notable experiment in Finland’s electoral history, illustrating the country’s willingness to explore alternative mechanisms for representative democracy.