Counting Rules
Under the single transferable vote system, votes are successively transferred to hopefuls from two sources:
- Surplus votes (i.e. those in excess of the quota) of successful candidates
- All votes of eliminated candidates.
The possible algorithms for doing this differ in detail, e.g., in the order of the steps. There is no general agreement on which is best, and the choice of exact method may affect the outcome.
- Compute the quota.
- Assign votes to candidates by first preferences.
- Declare as winners all candidates who received at least the quota.
- Transfer the excess votes from winners to hopefuls.
- Repeat 2-4 until no new candidates are elected. (Under some systems, votes could initially be transferred in this step to prior winners or losers. This might affect the outcome.)
If all seats have winners, the process is complete. Otherwise:
- Eliminate one or more candidates. Typically either the lowest candidate or all candidates whose combined votes are less than the vote of the lowest remaining candidate.
- Transfer the votes of the losers to continuing candidates are declared to be losers.
- Repeat 2-7 until all seats are full.
Read more about this topic: Counting Single Transferable Votes
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