Slate (elections)

A Slate is a group of candidates that run in multi-seat or multi-position elections on a common platform.

The common platform maybe because the candidates are all members of a political party or have the same or similar policies, or simply that they are a group of friends.

Elections that commonly have slates

United States Electoral College

The United States presidential elections use an electoral college to determine the winner and the electors are chosen by popular vote in each state. Voters choose a slate of electors that are supporting one of the candidates, although this may not be obvious to the voter at the time.

United Kingdom Student Unions

Most student unions in the United Kingdom have the places on their executive committee elected simultaneously, but separately. Groups of candidates may run together so as each candidate can campaign for themselves and the other members on the slate at the same time, thereby increasing the election material and manpower available to the group. Slates can be political (e.g. Stop the War) or non-political. However some students' unions ban the use of slates in their elections.