Source: Getty image
Source: Getty image
Source: Getty image
Source: Getty image
Source: Getty image
Source: Getty image
Source: Getty image
Source: Getty image
Source: Getty image
Source: Getty image
Source: Getty image
Placing a number ‘1’ against a candidate is considered the first preference or primary vote.
If a candidate gets more than 50% of these formal first preference votes, they are immediately elected.
For example, if there are 100,000 formal votes, the absolute majority is 50,001 votes or more.
- Peter has 33,000 first preferences
- Jane has 27,000 first preferences
- Rachel has 26,000 first preferences
- Paul has 14,000 first preferences
If no candidate secures an absolute majority of primary votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is then eliminated from the count.
In this example, no candidate has an absolute majority and the person with the lowest number of votes is Paul with 14,000 votes.
Paul is excluded and his votes are distributed to the second preferences marked on these ballot papers:
14,000 votes transferred to the candidate numbered two.
The votes for this excluded candidate are then transferred to the candidate numbered two on each of the ballot papers, the voter's second preference.
- Peter gain 3,000 second preferences, taking his total to 36,000 votes
- Jane gains 5,000 second preferences, taking his total to 32,000 votes
- Rachel gains 6,000 second preferences, taking her total to 32,000 votes
But, no candidate has an absolute majority
Another candidate must be excluded.
Jane and Rachel both has 32,000 votes. In this situation, the candidate with the lowest number of votes in the first count is excluded.
So, Rachel is excluded, and her votes are distributed by the next preference marked on those ballot papers.
Third count
- Peter gains 13,000 votes, taking his total to 49,000
- Jane gains 19,000 votes, taking her total to 51,000
Jane has an absolute majority and becomes the elected representative for the electorate.
Jane was not the candidate who had the most votes in the first count, however she gained an absolute majority on preferences.
This counting process continues until one candidate has more than half of the formal votes cast or an absolute majority and is therefore declared elected.
