Voting

An STV voting paper lists the candidates with a box alongside each name. Instead of ticking the name of preferred candidates, voters rank them by putting ‘1’ beside the most-preferred candidate, ‘2’ beside their next preference and so on.

Setting the quota

Immediately after the poll has closed, election officers count the valid votes and work out the quota. This is the number of votes a candidate needs to be elected.

The formula is to divide the number of valid votes by one more than the number of vacancies to be filled, and add one.

For example, if 1000 people vote in an area to elect three councillors, the quota is 1000/4 (3+1) = 250 + 1 = 251. So, in this example, all candidates earning 251 votes will be elected.

The quota formula also works for the election of a single representative, such as that for city mayor. Using the same example of 1000 voters, the quota would be 501 (1000/2 + 1).

Counting the votes

The counting method is complicated. It is done by computer, running a special programme. What follows is a simplified explanation.

First, the ‘1’ votes are counted. If a candidate gets more ‘1s’ (first preferences) than are needed to reach the quota, they are elected. Any votes they get above the quota are proportionally spread among the other candidates who earned a ‘2’ (second preference) on the winning candidate’s ballot papers.

Again, let’s say the quota is 251. Ms Jones gets 351 votes and is elected. Her surplus is 100 votes. Of all those who gave Ms Jones a ‘1’, half (175) gave Mr Brown a ‘2’, so half of her surplus votes — 50 — are added to Mr Brown’s total.

If that pushes Mr Brown’s total over 251, he too is elected and any surplus is similarly spread among the candidates who appeared as a ‘2’ on his ballot papers.

If this spill over system does not elect enough candidates, then the candidates who could not possibly be elected are eliminated and the votes for them are redistributed.

The process of redistributing elected candidates’ surplus votes and eliminating and redistributing the votes for lowestpolling candidates goes on until the required number of candidates reach the quota and are elected.

• Want more information? The STV Taskforce’s report on Local Government Electoral Systems is on the Department of Internal Affairs website, at www.dia.govt.nz Under Services, choose Local Government Services, where there is a link to the report.