- Single Transferable Vote (STV) is a proportional electoral system used in constituencies where there are multiple representatives.
- Used in: Northern Ireland Assembly, Scottish local elections, and some elections in the Republic of Ireland.
- Voters rank candidates in order of preference (1, 2, 3, etc.).
- To be elected, a candidate must reach a set quota of votes. If a candidate exceeds the quota, surplus votes are transferred to other candidates based on voters' next preferences.
- If no one reaches the quota, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are transferred. This process is repeated until all seats are filled.
- STV aims to achieve proportional representation whilst giving voters more choice.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Proportional results | Counting process is more complex, inefficient with large populations |
| Fewer "wasted" votes | Can weaken the link between representatives and local areas |
| Voters have more choice and can rank candidates. This increases legitimacy. | Can lead to coalition or less stable governments |
| Encourages cooperation between parties and candidates. | Ballot papers can be more complicated for voters, voter apathy could increase. |
- STV is designed to reflect the diversity of voters' preferences and ensure fairer representation.