Äänestäjän mahdollisuudet vaikuttaa yksittäisen ehdokkaan valintaan puolueen sisällä

Authors

• Pertti Timonen

Abstract

In the following article different electoral systems are compared. What are the chances for voters to have an influence on the elections of a specific individual within a party? Do the different electoral systems have any influence on the political system as a whole? In answering these questions 28 European countries have been studied. Although there are differences even between different majority electoral systems, the practical chances to influence the selection of a single candidate are generally rather small. This is partly due to the small number of candidates from different parties, sometimes only one per party for a single constituency. Further, a required absolute majority makes the selection of any specific candidate rather difficult. Instead, in different proportional electoral systems the chances for voters to vary the composition of representatives is more likely. This is due to following factors: Is it possible to vote for a single candidate or an entire party? Is candidate voting compulsory or voluntary? Can one candidate be preferred over another? etc. According to tentative results the best chances to have an influence on the selection of single candidates can be found in Luxemburg, Switzerland, Greece, Denmark and Finland. The chances are least in West Germany, Portugal and Spain. On the other hand it seems to be that there is no direct relationship between the political system and the chances a voter has to influence the selection of candidates. It is rather the character of the political culture that is more decisive.