## public Election::addCandidate

### Description    

```php
public Election->addCandidate ( [CondorcetPHP\Condorcet\Candidate|string|null $candidate = null] ): CondorcetPHP\Condorcet\Candidate
```

Add one candidate to an election.
    

##### **candidate:** *```CondorcetPHP\Condorcet\Candidate|string|null```*   
Alphanumeric string or CondorcetPHP\Condorcet\Candidate object. The whitespace of your candidate name will be trimmed. If null, this function will create a new candidate with an automatic name.    


### Return value:   

*(```CondorcetPHP\Condorcet\Candidate```)* The new candidate object (your or automatic one). Throws an exception on error (existing candidate...).



### Throws:   

* ```CondorcetPHP\Condorcet\Throwable\CandidateExistsException```
* ```CondorcetPHP\Condorcet\Throwable\VotingHasStartedException```

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### Related method(s)      

* [Election::parseCandidates](../Election%20Class/public%20Election--parseCandidates.md)    
* [Election::addCandidatesFromJson](../Election%20Class/public%20Election--addCandidatesFromJson.md)    
* [Election::removeCandidate](../Election%20Class/public%20Election--removeCandidate.md)    
* [Election::getCandidatesList](../Election%20Class/public%20Election--getCandidatesList.md)    
* [Election::canAddCandidate](../Election%20Class/public%20Election--canAddCandidate.md)    

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### Examples and explanation

* **[Manual - Manage Candidate](https://github.com/julien-boudry/Condorcet/wiki/II-%23-A.-Create-an-Election-%23-2.-Create-Candidates)**