listajärjestelmällä

Listajärjestelmällä refers to a system of electoral representation based on party lists. In this system, voters cast their ballots for a political party rather than an individual candidate. Parties compile a predetermined order of candidates, known as a list, before the election. When the votes are tallied, parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes they receive. The seats are then allocated to candidates on their respective lists according to the pre-election order.

There are various forms of list systems. Proportional representation is the most common principle, ensuring that a party's seat share closely mirrors its vote share. Thresholds, or minimum percentages of votes, may be required for a party to gain any seats, thus preventing very small parties from fragmenting the legislature. Open-list systems allow voters some influence over the order of candidates within a party's list, while closed-list systems strictly adhere to the party's pre-determined ranking. Semi-open systems offer a compromise. List systems are widely used globally and are often praised for promoting broader representation and minimizing wasted votes compared to some other electoral methods.