New Zealand Legislation: Acts

5B General description of Single Transferable Voting electoral system

• For local electoral purposes, the Single Transferable Voting electoral system,—

  • (a) in the case of an election for multi-member vacancies, has the following features:

    • (i) voters express a first preference for 1 candidate and may express second and further preferences for other candidates:

    • (ii) a quota for election is calculated from the number of votes and positions to be filled:

    • (iii) the first preferences are counted and any candidate whose first preference votes equal or exceed the quota is elected:

    • (iv) if insufficient candidates are elected under subparagraph (iii), the proportion of an elected candidate's votes above the quota is redistributed according to voters' further preferences, and—

      • (A) candidates who then reach the quota are elected; and

      • (B) the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded:

    • (v) the excluded candidate's votes are redistributed according to voters' further preferences:

    • (vi) if insufficient candidates are elected under subparagraphs (iv) and (v), the steps described in subparagraphs (iv) and (v) are repeated until all positions are filled:

  • (b) in the case of an election for a mayoral or single member vacancy, has the following features:

    • (i) voters express a first preference for 1 candidate and may express second and further preferences for other candidates:

    • (ii) an absolute majority of votes for election is calculated from the number of votes and positions to be filled:

    • (iii) the first preferences are counted and, if a candidate's first preference votes equal or exceed the absolute majority of votes, that candidate is elected:

    • (iv) if no candidate is elected under subparagraph (iii), the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and that candidate's votes are redistributed according to voters' further preferences:

    • (v) if no candidate is elected under subparagraph (iv), the steps described in subparagraph (iv) are repeated until a candidate is elected:

  • (c) in the case of a poll, has the features specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) as if, with all necessary modifications, every reference to a candidate were a reference to the matter or matters that are the subject of the poll.

  Section 5B: inserted, on 7 July 2004, by section 4 of the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 62).