Although several possibilities are permitted within electoral procedures, normally candidates are proposed and supported by the political parties (see Party and Candidate Registration).
This occurs for reasons that are inseparable from a representative democracy, which not only pursue fair representation of the voters, but also the forming of majorities with sufficient electoral support to permit sufficiently stable governments.
The political parties answer to this need because of their capacity to integrate candidates and political support structures at a higher level
than each constituency.
Common criticisms in consolidated democratic systems because of the regular problems within the parties include:
- excessive influence or power of their internal structures or machines
- professionalisation of those who are involved in politics, thus making it difficult for alternatives to emerge
- predominance, at times, of the furthering of personal interests of those who form them as opposed to common interests perceived by the electorate
- the growing gap separating them from the common citizens for these reasons
These problems, however, must not make one forget that the function of the political parties is irreplaceable, however much the defects observed in their functioning need to be solved for the good of the democratic system.
In a sufficiently articulated, open democratic society, a party system warped by any of the ways mentioned faces a dilemma--either it is capable of evolving and solving the problems for the electorate in a perceivable manner, or public criticism will gradually lead to a loss of confidence in it and perhaps even in its legitimacy. Opposition parties will grow or, if there is no sound alternative, abstention will increase, until new political parties or groups emerge that will weaken and probably end up replacing those that resist change.
Aside from political parties, candidacies may be proposed by coalitions or groups of parties, with formalities of varying content and intensity in the different countries. Contrary to what happens with post-electoral alliances, those established prior to the elections may have legal influence, e.g., preventing the parties that make them up from proposing their own lists
in the same constituencies.
The proposal of independent candidacies of parties or coalitions is a third possibility. In fact, depending on the area in which the elections are taking place and the size of the constituency, this is more difficult because of the complexity of the pre-election activities and the resources needed for the campaigns.
It is obviously simpler and more common for independent candidates to stand in local elections or in smaller constituencies. The exceptions to this
generalisation normally show that only outstanding financial resources (e.g., Ross Perot) or being well-known to the masses beforehand (e.g. Vargas Llosa in Peru) permit independent candidates to overcome the barriers that impedes recognition by the voters.
