Manifesto for Elections Without Party Preselection
What we really need in our world is not more ideological debates. What we need is the end of preselection in politics. Anyone who disagrees should ask themselves how democracy can exist when we can’t choose our candidates. Preselection makes a joke of every democracy because it creates a fundamental barrier between the people and the government.
Right now all democracies are heavily influenced by political parties. Most politicians in our present system have to play power games to become and remain eligible. They rise through conformity and then lift on the name of whatever political party they are in. Ultimately mass media shape our perception of what preselected candidates are most reliable.
It may be hard to imagine how radical politics would change with direct elections. When all politicians are structurally free from party influence they all have the freedom to actually express themselves and to make their own decisions. Independent politicians in the legislature would also be able to keep the administration in check in ways that are currently constrained by party discipline.
We would finally have a meaningful separation of powers. We would have a system where we are actually in charge. We would experience real change and real mechanisms to hold power accountable. All of this would be possible if anyone in a given democracy could make themselves eligible without having to go through internal party hierarchies.
Many fear that if anyone could be elected our governments would get overrun by popular animals from movies and talk shows. This may actually be very positive because a real political zoo is more likely to care about us than those who govern us now. Of course we don’t want chaos but even the best improvements have potential disadvantages. Many current politicians have no incentive to serve the people because nothing keeps them in check. They are puppets of their own party dynamics which are often fueled by money.
Real democracy can only emerge when we understand how most social causes would benefit from equal eligibility laws that explicitly limit political party influence. Organize protests for this cause. Make people aware of its relevance. Convince politicians and bureaucrats. We have to change the system and we have to change it now.
“Modern democracy fails not at voting but at candidate selection. If anything could improve elections it is to limit party control over who is allowed to run.”
Appendix: How Elections Without Party Preselection Could Work
For real change, a manifesto alone is no enough – even if everyone would approve of it. For real change we also need to know what elections without party preselection could mean, how they could function, and how existing democracies could transition toward greater fairness without unnecessary disruption. This appendix shows that elections without party preselection are plausible, gradual, and compatible with democratic stability.
What elections without party preselection mean
Elections without party preselection do not imply the abolition of political parties. Parties may continue to exist, organize, campaign, endorse candidates, and promote political programs. The key change is structural: political parties would no longer control who is allowed to appear on the ballot.
Eligibility to run for office would be determined by simple, equal, and transparent rules that apply to all individuals in the same way, regardless of party affiliation. No candidate would need approval from a party hierarchy in order to stand for election. This distinction allows parties to remain part of political life while removing their gatekeeping role over democratic participation.
Plausible election mechanisms
There is no single mechanism required to reduce or eliminate party preselection. Various approaches could be combined or adapted depending on national context.
Examples include:
- Equal eligibility requirements for all candidates, such as modest signature thresholds or registration criteria applied uniformly.
- Ballot design that does not privilege party-backed candidates over independent ones.
- Campaign finance rules focused on individuals rather than party structures.
- Public platforms providing equal access to basic candidate information.
These mechanisms are not presented as prescriptions, but as illustrations that practical options exist.
Gradual transition pathways
Concerns about disruption and instability are legitimate. For this reason, any move toward elections without party preselection would likely need to be gradual.
Possible transition pathways include:
- Piloting new eligibility rules at local or municipal levels
- Applying non-party preselection rules to specific offices before expanding them
- Allowing parallel systems for a limited number of election cycles
- Introducing reforms as optional or opt-in mechanisms before broader adoption
Such incremental approaches allow democratic systems to adapt while preserving continuity and trust.
By Rob Scholte