Too many, too few: Candidate selection in 2020

Often overlooked by the media and voters alike, the candidate selection phase for general elections has immeasurable consequences in that it shapes the decision presented to voters when they receive their ballots and ultimately structures the choices available to Taoisigh when choosing cabinet members. Candidates are chosen at constituency level by political parties in local selection conventions. Local party members have voting rights but party elites determine the criteria for the decisions to be made. The dynamics of this shared decision making process are explored for all the major parties. Geography, gender and political experience feature prominently in the factors that influence decisions made by both party elites and party members.