Add setting to show the "Candidates" tab for elections

+    'view candidate list' => array(
+      'title' => t('View candidate list'),
+      'description' => t('This allows the user to view all candidates for an election.'),
+    ),

The problem with this is that it suggests if the permission is not granted, then the user won't be able to see candidates - actually the user still can see candidates, in places such as the post's page (election-post/%election_post), and in the voting form. I would rename it as something like "View Candidates tab", description "This shows an overview list of candidates in a tab for each election.".

I understand in your use case, the aim is just to reduce confusion, not actually a security consideration - is that right?

I was thinking of getting rid of the Candidates tab, but it may be useful to some. See the two attached patches for two more approaches. Or another idea might be to make it a setting per election.

OK. This is how we've used the tab, to give an idea:
http://uclu.org/election/14/candidates

Try this

Committed the above.