Editing Elections in Sweden (section)

===Party list candidate selection===
In Sweden, the seats of the Riksdag are allocated to the parties, and the prospective members are selected by their party.{{sfn|Ewing|2010|p=151}} Sweden uses [[open list]]s and utilizes [[apparentement]] between lists of the same constituency and party to form a ''cartel'', a group of lists that are legally allied for purposes of seat allocation.{{sfn|Cox|1997|p=61}} Which candidates from which lists are to secure the seats allocated to the party is determined by two factors: preference votes are first used to choose candidates which pass a certain threshold,{{sfn|Elections|p=20}} then the number of votes cast for the various lists within that party are used.{{sfn|Cox|1997|p=61}}{{sfn|Särlvik|1983|p=134}}{{sfn|Elections|p=20}} In national general elections, any candidates who receive a number of personal votes equal to five percent or greater of the party's total number of votes will automatically be bumped to the top of the list, regardless of their ranking on the list by the party.  This threshold is similarly five percent for local elections and elections to the [[European Parliament]].{{sfn|Elections|p=16}}

Although sometimes dissatisfied party supporters put forward their own lists, the lists are usually put forward by the parties, and target different constituencies and categories of voters.{{sfn|Särlvik|1983|p=134}} Competition between lists is usually more of a feature of campaign strategies than for effective candidate preferences, and does not bear prominently in elections.{{sfn|Särlvik|1983|p=134}}

Because seats are allocated primarily to the parties and not candidates, the seat of an MP who resigns during their term in office can be taken by a replacement runner-up candidate from their own party (unlike systems such as [[Elections in the United Kingdom|the United Kingdom]], a [[by-election]] is not triggered). In contrast to assigning the seat, resigning is a voluntary action of the MP, meaning that there exists the possibility of MPs resigning from their parties but not their seats and sitting as independents. The system of replacement runner-up candidates also means that the Prime Minister and their potential members of cabinet appear on ballot papers, but surrender their seats to replacement candidates as they are appointed as ministers (holding both posts is not permitted). This allows senior party politicians to assume roles as opposition members of parliament if they lose an election.