single transferable vote

how it works and where its used

used in northern Ireland assembly and Scottish local council

• STV uses multi member constituencies MMCs and voter number their choices 1 2 3

• in order to be elected, a candidate needs to get more votes than a quota which is deprived by using the droop formula the number of votes cast divided by the number of seats +1

• surplus votes are proportionately redistributed to 2nd preferences

• if no one reaches the quota the least popular candidate is eliminated and the second preferences of those who voted them are redistributed

• this process is repeated until the seats are filled

STV in northern Ireland

• the providence is divided into 18 multi member constituencies

• each constituency votes 5 members to make up 90 in total

• voter cast their votes preferentially up to a max of 5

• a quota is then calculated in each other 18 regions

advantages of SVT

• fewer votes are wasted so most voters will have helped to elect one representative

• greater choice voters can choose between parties or between candidates in the same party

• it offers voters more than one representative to approach with their concerns after the election

• there are no safe seats meaning candidates cannot be complacent and parties must campaign everywhere not just marginal seats

• no tactical votes

• a coalition gov likely so parties work together (also disadvantage)

disadvantages of STV

• counting results takes longer so results take a while to be announced

• it can lead to donkey voting where voters vote candidates in order of where they are on the paper

• in MMCs ballot papers can get big and confusing many ballot papers spoiled in Scotland when it was introduced

• MMCs mean lines of accountability are less clear