TOPSIS Integration in Evaluation and Ranking of Legislative Candidates

Abstract

In today's dynamic electoral era, the selection of candidates for politics depends heavily on the assessment of the party or party figure on prospective legislative candidates. The TOPSIS method can provide a dynamic ranking from highest to lowest, which is one of the important ranking evaluations. Not only that, this method can also help in the selection of the best alternative from a number of alternatives, by not only considering the advantages but also disadvantages of each alternative. Thus, this research is expected to contribute to conducting a more detailed evaluation of legislative candidates dynamically and comprehensively. This research method involves several main steps: the formation of a preliminary decision matrix based on certain criteria, data normalization, weighing of the normalization matrix, determination of positive and negative ideal solutions, and calculation of distances to ideal solutions. The criteria selected include Track Record, Vision and Mission, Campaign Method, and Candidate History, with weights assigned based on importance. The Track Record and Vision and Mission were chosen because they reflect the quality and leadership ability of the candidate, while the Campaign Method and Candidate History provide an indication of the candidate's ethics and integrity. The results showed that TOPSIS was effective in ranking candidates based on predetermined criteria. Candidates with the best combination of performance across various criteria topped the rankings, while candidates with dominant negative aspects ranked lower. These results confirm the importance of holistic and balanced assessment in candidate selection, taking into account various relevant factors. The conclusion of this study shows that the application of TOPSIS in the context of candidate elections offers a transparent and accountable method to evaluate candidates, supporting the democratic process by providing objective and data-driven information to voters and decision makers.