Single Transferable Vote

Single Transferable Vote (stv) in Voting Law

Definition of Single Transferable Vote (stv) in the context of the United States election law: A preferential candidate-centred proportional representation system used in multi-member districts. The voter has one vote and ranks all candidates by preference. When votes are counted, his or her vote is initially given to the candidate of first choice. The vote can then be transferred to the candidate who came second or third, and so on. Any candidate who reaches the quota is elected. If no candidate reaches the quota, whoever is ranked first the least number of times is eliminated. Then it is the turn of candidates ranked second. Votes are tallied again to see if one or more candidates have reached the quota. In case not all seats are filled, votes are redistributed from the least successful candidate who is eliminated, until sufficient candidates are declared elected. One feature of this system is to minimise the number of lost votes as much as possible.

Single Transferable Vote (stv) in Voting Law

Definition of Single Transferable Vote (stv) in the context of the United States election law: A preferential candidate-centred proportional representation system used in multi-member districts. The voter has one vote and ranks all candidates by preference. When votes are counted, his or her vote is initially given to the candidate of first choice. The vote can then be transferred to the candidate who came second or third, and so on. Any candidate who reaches the quota is elected. If no candidate reaches the quota, whoever is ranked first the least number of times is eliminated. Then it is the turn of candidates ranked second. Votes are tallied again to see if one or more candidates have reached the quota. In case not all seats are filled, votes are redistributed from the least successful candidate who is eliminated, until sufficient candidates are declared elected. One feature of this system is to minimise the number of lost votes as much as possible.