Single Transferable Vote (stv)

Single Transferable Vote, or STV, is a ranked-choice proportional representation system used in multi-member elections. Voters rank candidates. Candidates who reach a defined quota are elected, surplus votes may transfer according to later preferences, and lower-ranked candidates can be eliminated with their votes transferred until the available seats are filled.

STV counts first preferences and compares candidates with an election quota. When a candidate exceeds the quota, rules transfer an appropriate share of surplus votes to continuing candidates. If no one reaches the quota, the lowest candidate can be eliminated and those ballots transfer to the next available preference. The cycle continues until seats are filled.

Yes. STV is designed to produce proportional representation in multi-member districts while allowing voters to rank individual candidates. The degree of proportionality depends on factors such as district magnitude, the quota, transfer rules, and ballot patterns. It differs from single-winner ranked-choice systems even though both use ranked preferences and vote transfers.