Legal Definitions - preferential voting

Preferential voting is an electoral system where voters rank candidates in order of preference, rather than simply choosing a single candidate. This system is designed to ensure that the winning candidate has broad support and is preferred by a majority of voters, even if they weren't the first choice for everyone.

In a preferential voting system, if no candidate receives an absolute majority of first-preference votes (typically more than 50%), the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated. The votes cast for the eliminated candidate are then redistributed to the voters' next preferred candidate on their ballot. This process of elimination and redistribution continues until one candidate achieves an absolute majority of the remaining valid votes.

• Example 1: Municipal Mayoral Election

  Imagine a city holding an election for its mayor, with four candidates vying for the position. Instead of simply picking one name, voters are given a ballot where they can rank candidates from 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice, and 4th choice. After the initial count, if Candidate A receives the most first-preference votes but not an outright majority (e.g., 40% of votes), and Candidate D has the fewest first-preference votes (e.g., 10%), Candidate D is eliminated. The ballots that initially ranked Candidate D as first choice are then re-examined, and those votes are transferred to the candidate ranked second on those specific ballots. This process continues, eliminating the lowest-ranked candidate and redistributing their votes, until one candidate secures more than 50% of the remaining votes, ensuring the elected mayor has majority support.

• Example 2: Professional Association Board Election

  Consider a national association of architects electing its new president for the upcoming term. The association uses preferential voting to ensure the elected leader has widespread support among its diverse membership. Members receive a ballot where they can rank the three nominees for president in their order of preference. If no nominee wins an immediate majority of first-preference votes, the nominee with the lowest number of first-preference votes is dropped from the race. The votes from those members who ranked the dropped nominee as their first choice are then reallocated to their second-choice nominee. This iterative process continues until one nominee achieves a majority, reflecting a broader consensus within the professional community rather than just a plurality.

• Example 3: University Student Government Election

  A university's student body is electing its Student Council President. There are four candidates, and the university employs a preferential voting system to ensure the elected president truly represents the student population. Students mark their ballots by ranking the candidates from their most preferred (1) to least preferred (4). After the initial count, if no candidate has over 50% of the first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated. The votes from students who chose the eliminated candidate as their first preference are then transferred to their second-preference candidate. This iterative process ensures that the eventual winner is the candidate most broadly acceptable to the student population, rather than just the one with the largest initial support base.