Single Transferrable Voting System Explained

In this by-election for Na-Hearadh ward, voters will vote for their preferred candidate using the single transferrable voting system.  Voters rank candidates in order of preference by marking 1,2,3 and so on.  A voter can rank as many or as few candidates as they like or vote for only once candidate.

Each candidate needs to reach a quota.  This is the minimum number of votes calculated according to the number of seats and votes cast.

The first preference votes for each candidate are added up.  Candidates who achieve this quota are elected.

Surplus votes from candidates who hit the quota go to second preference candidates.

The candidate with the fewest first preference votes who does not achieve the quota is eliminated.  Voters who voted for an eliminated candidate then have their votes transferred to their second preference.  The process of transferring surpluses and second (or third, fourth and so on) preferences continues until all vacant seats have been filled.