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► STV Explained
In the union elections we use a system known as Single Transferable Voting. This differs to the kind of voting used in General Elections known as "First Past the Post" which doesn't take into account the bigger picture of how the voters feel. STV allows you not only to indicate your first choice candidate but you can also show that in the event of that candidate not winning, who your second choice would be, third choice and so on. However, if you only wish to vote for your first choice candidate put a “1” against their name and no other mark on the paper.
The STV system also incorporates a candidate known as Re-open Nominations (RON). If you're not happy with any of the candidates then vote RON rather than not vote. If this candidate wins then the whole election process for that position starts again to allow new candidates to stand.
So, how does Single Transferable voting work? In this system a candidate must get a percentage of all votes to win.
If there is only one position to be won, then this percentage is 50% of all the votes cast.
In the election for National Conference delegates the quota will be 33% of all the votes cast as there are three positions open for election.
Let's try an example, our test subject being “Who is the Best Simpson?”
First, let's look at a sample completed ballot paper.
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Name of candidate
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Marge
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4
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Homer
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2
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Bart
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1
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Lisa
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3
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Maggie
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5
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Ron
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6
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As you can see, a "1" has been put by the first choice of candidate - through to a "6" for the sixth choice. It is important you don't mark the ballot paper in any other way at all or it will be classed as "spoilt" and will not be counted in the election.
All the ballot papers are counted according to first preference, that is every candidate's name with a number 1 next to it.
394 votes cast : Quota needed 197
1st count
Marge 68
Homer 102
Bart 94
Lisa 92
Maggie 36
RON 2
As nobody has yet reached the quota, the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated. Their ballot papers are re-checked and transferred to the candidate whose name is marked "2" on the ballot paper.
2nd count (after re-allocation of RON'S votes)
Marge 68
Homer 104
Bart 94
Lisa 92
Maggie 36
As the quota has still not been reached then poor little Maggie is eliminated and her votes are transferred.
3rd count (after re-allocation of Maggie's votes)
Marge 70
Homer 104
Bart 94
Lisa 126
Quota has still not been reached by any candidate so we say goodbye to Marge who is eliminated from the election.
4th count (re-allocation of Marge's ballot papers)
Homer 132
Bart 117
Lisa 145
Quota still not reached so Bart is eliminated from the election.
5th count (re-allocation of Bart's ballot papers)
Homer 210
Lisa 184
So, although Homer was trailing behind Lisa in the latter stages of the election, after the re-allocation of Bart's papers he reached quota and won the election for Best Simpson.
Now it's been explained to you - go out and VOTE!
If you still find the idea of the single transferable vote a little confusing then pop into the SU Office and the Staff there will be more than happy to explain it to you. The system is adopted by most (if not all) Students’ Unions across the U.K.
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