论差额选举制度价值之实现

On the Realization of the Institutional value of Competitive Elections

差额选举是指候选人名额多于应选人名额,便于充分体现选举人意志的选举方式。所谓"适用"差额选举,不能只是在形式上做到"候选人名额多于应选人名额",更重要的是,在实际上追求"充分体现选举人意志"。如果所谓"适用"仅仅流于表面化形式化,那么,再重要的制度价值也只是一种潜在因素。而要使潜在因素成为现实的制度价值,就必须克服形式主义,"当真"地用足、用好、用实制度。

An election is competitive when two or more candidates run for an office. Competitive elections can fully reflect the will of the voters. Where a competitive election is 'applicable', it does not just mean that 'the number of candidates exceeds the number of places available, as it superficially looks like; but more importantly, it should actually pursue to 'fully reflect the will of the voters'. If the so-called 'applicability' is treated superficially, all institutional values would just be a potential factor no matter how important they are. To make such potential factors become real institutional values, we must avoid formalism and 'seriously' make full, good and substantial use of the system.