Party list system

As the name suggests, this system is based on voting done for party rather than the candidates. The Party-List system is followed in both single-member constituencies as well as multi-member constituencies. Some of the examples include states of European Union (Belgium, Luxembourg); also the European Parliament gets elected following this method. Apart from these, it is also followed in those countries where the entire country is considered as a single constituency such as Israel, and Switzerland.

Votes are casted in favour of parties and not candidates. However, the list system is such that the voter is well aware of all the candidates contesting the election as the parties list their candidates in order of the preferences, with first rank being given to the highest position. Hence, each of the party in the country prepares a list which declares the candidates position if they get elected to power. Voters cast their votes in favour of their preferred party after knowing the list of the candidates. Parties share the seats in direct proportion with the votes acquired. For instance, if a party achieves 40 percent of votes, then it gets to represent 40 percent of seats which gets filled by the list of candidates prepared by the party beforehand. In Switzerland this system has been slightly modified where the voters get a blank vote, and they can either vote for a party-list or they can create their own hybrid-list which consists of candidates from different party-lists.

Party-list system can be further classified in two forms: Open-list systems and closed-list systems. The former is an arrangement where voters cast their vote for both the party and the candidate within the party. So, they have their say in determining who in the party-list should be chosen for the said position. For example, in Finland, the voters cast two votes- one for the party and other for the candidate within that Party.

Closed-list system, on the other hand, does not give any choice to the voter in context of the candidate. The list is prepared by the party and presented to the electorate. In Israel which has adopted this system, voters accept the list of candidates nominated by the party and cast their vote in favour of the party.

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