lijstduwers

A lijstduwer is a person who is placed on a political party’s electoral list primarily to attract votes for the party, rather than with the intention of winning a seat. The concept relies on name recognition, popular appeal, or public visibility to boost turnout and the party’s overall vote share.

In proportional representation systems, voters can cast a vote for a party list or for a specific candidate on that list. A lijstduwer can help increase the number of votes the party receives without actively seeking office himself or herself. While a lijstduwer may end up elected if they receive a large number of preference votes, their typical role is to contribute to broader appeal rather than to serve as a leading candidate.

Practically, lijstduwers are often well-known figures, such as celebrities, athletes, or local personalities, who lend their name to a party for a particular election cycle. They usually appear somewhere on the list that signals a willingness to support the party’s campaign rather than a commitment to take a seat if elected. The use of lijstduwers can influence campaign dynamics by broadening demographics reached and increasing voter engagement, but it can also provoke debate about the focus of political campaigning on personalities versus policy.

Overall, the lijstduwer mechanism is a strategic tool used by parties to maximize votes, while remaining distinct from the party’s core lineup of elected representatives.