nimekirjavalimissüsteem

A nimekirjavalimissüsteem, often translated as a list-based election system, is a type of proportional representation electoral system where voters cast a ballot for a political party, and the party then fills the seats it has won from a predetermined list of candidates. These lists can be structured in different ways, most commonly as either closed or open lists.

In a closed list system, the order of candidates on the party list is fixed by the party and cannot be altered by voters. Parties allocate seats based on this pre-determined order, meaning the candidates at the top of the list are most likely to be elected. This system emphasizes party discipline and cohesion.

In contrast, an open list system allows voters to express a preference for individual candidates within a party's list, in addition to voting for the party itself. This means voters can influence which candidates from a successful party are elected, potentially promoting more responsive representatives. The specific mechanism for translating these individual preferences into seat allocation varies between countries.

Nimekirjavalimissüsteemid are designed to achieve a more proportional representation of political parties in a legislature compared to plurality or majoritarian systems. They aim to ensure that the composition of the parliament closely reflects the overall vote share of each party. However, they can also lead to fragmentation of the political landscape if many small parties gain representation. The choice between closed and open lists reflects different priorities regarding party versus voter influence.