Party-list system

A party-list system is a type of electoral system that formally involves political parties in the electoral process, usually to facilitate multi-winner elections. In party-list systems, parties put forward a list of candidates, the party-list who stand for election on one ticket. Voters can usually vote directly for the party-list, but in other systems voters may vote for directly individuals candidates within or across party lists (such systems are referred to as open list and panachage),^[1] besides or instead of voting directly for parties (mixed electoral systems).

Most commonly, party-list systems refer to party-list proportional representation, but there are other electoral systems using party-lists including the general ticket (party block voting) and mixed electoral systems.^[2] Not only are not all party-list systems proportional, not all proportional systems are party-list systems. Candidates who won their seats from a party-list are called list MPs.

Types party-list systems

By proportionality of representation

• proportional party-list systems, including list PR and MMP
• semi-proportional party-list systems, including parallel voting and AMS
• plurality/majoritarian party-list system (general ticket)

By candidate selection

• Open-list
• Closed-list
• Local list
• Two-tier party-list systems
• Ley de Lemas

By ballot type

• single vote
• mixed ballot
• panachage
• double simultaneous vote

Other

• mixed electoral systems that use party-list PR to allocate some, but not all seats

See also

• Election
• List of electoral systems by country
• Comparison of electoral systems
• Outline of democracy
• Multi-member district
• Single transferable vote
• Party-list proportional representation
• Straight-ticket voting
• Group voting ticket

References