(STV) A voting procedure in which voters submit a preference raking over all the candidates. Any candidate that receives more than a certain number of first-place votes is elected. If the elected candidates receive more votes than necessary for election, their excess votes are distributed to the other candidates in accordance with the second-choice preferences of the voters. Once again, any candidate that receives more than a certain number of votes is elected and the redistribution procedure continues. If the redistribution procedures reaches a point where there are no more votes to be redistributed and there are still more elected positions to be filled, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and the votes for that candidate are redistributed.
A method of conducting elections which when only one seat is to be filled is similar to sequential run-off, but when several seats are to be filled can used as a proportional representation method. The method establishes a quota for election and transfers votes for candidates who exceeded this quota to other candidates. If seats are yet to be filled but no candidate has achieved a quota, the candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated and these ballots are transferred to other lower ranked candidates of those voters. (The system was developed by Thomas Hare.)
This is the method now used by the RCN and most other comparable organisations to conduct elections. The method ensures that the successful candidates have the confidence of the majority, by letting members number the candidates in the order of their preference, instead of using X votes. If any candidate is the first choice of enough voters (a quota is calculated when the number of valid votes is known), she/he is elected. For subsequent places, or if no candidate achieves election on the basis of first preferences, each vote for the candidate with the fewest "1's" is transferred to whichever of the remaining candidates is marked as the next choice on each ballot paper - as if a second ballot were being held with the bottom candidate eliminated.
A voting system based on multi-member electorates, used for district Health Boards and some local government elections. Used for national elections in The Republic of Ireland and Malta. Electors indicate the order of their preference for the candidates by marking on the ballot paper 1, 2, 3 etc. The number of votes cast in an electorate and the number of members to be elected determine the quota of votes a candidate must win to be elected. Once the quota is set, the 1st preference votes are counted; candidates receiving more votes than the quota are declared elected and their surplus votes in excess of the quota are redistributed to other candidates according to voters' 2nd preferences. If the required number of members has not been elected, the lowest polling candidate is eliminated and his or her votes are redistributed to other candidates according to voters' 2nd preferences. The redistribution of surplus votes and of votes from eliminated candidates continues until the required number of candidates is elected. See also: STV material from the local body elections
form of proportional representation where voters rank candidates (either the number that are to be elected or as many of these that the voter prefers) in order of preference in multi-member constituencies. Winning candidates are determined through a vote count process that includes a minimum threshold of votes required for election.
(STV) - The choice voting form of proportional representation. It is a preferential proportional representation system used in multi-member districts. To gain election, candidates must surpass a specified quota of first-preference votes. Voters' preferences are re-allocated to other continuing candidates when an unsuccessful candidate is excluded or if an elected candidate has a surplus.
Single transferable vote (STV) is a preferential voting system designed to minimise wasted votes and provide proportional representation while ensuring that votes are explicitly for candidates rather than party lists. It achieves this by using multi-seat constituencies (districts) and by transferring votes that would otherwise be wasted. STV initially allocates an individual's vote to their most preferred candidate, and then subsequently transfers unneeded or unused votes after candidates are either elected or eliminated, according to the voter's stated preferences.