Single Transferable Vote (STV)

Single Transferable Vote (STV)

1. Used in the UK for local, devolved and European elections in Northern Ireland

2. Idea that people vote for the candidate rather than the party

   • Country divided into multi-member constituencies
   • Each party can put as many candidates as there are seats available
   • Voters can put as many preferences down on their ballot paper as they wish
     • Seats allocated on quota system
       • Reaches quota on first preference = elected

3. Advantages

   • Close relationship between number of votes and seats won
   • Fairer to smaller parties
   • Choose between candidates of the same party
   • likely to produce a coalition government
   • Securing the election for women and minority groups

4. Disadvantages

   • Very complicated
     • For votrers and electoral officials - result possible delayed
   • No close link between MP and constituency
   • Coalition government likely
   • Difficult to hold by-elections

5. Example

   • Northern Ireland Assembly elections 2016
     • Green Party and 'Profit before People' Party won more seats than the Traditional Unionist Party
       • Benefitted from second preferences votes
   • Ciaran Vere was here