single transferable vote

   A form of proportional representation based on multi-member constituencies, used for European and local elections in Northern Ireland, local government elections in Scotland and for all elections in the Irish Republic and Malta. To get elected, the candidate needs to obtain a quota. The voter marks the candidates in order of preference on the ballot paper. The first preferences are then counted. Those with the quota are declared elected, their surplus votes being redistributed on the basis of the second preferences on their ballot papers to the remaining candidates. When no further candidate can be elected via these means, then candidates are eliminated from the bottom, one at a time. Their second preferences are then redistributed, until the remaining vacancies are filled. Supporters claim that it enables voters to discriminate between candidates of the same party, thereby enhancing voter choice. It delivers a reasonably proportional result, depending on the size of constituency employed. As with other systems of proportional representation, it makes it easier for third parties to gain representation and coalition government more likely.

   Further reading: D. Farrell, Electoral Systems: A Comparative Introduction, Palgrave, 2001