Voting

__ Setting the quota __
In an STV election, a candidate requires a certain minimum number of votes – the quota (or threshold) – to be elected. A number of different quotas can be used; the most common is the [|Droop quota], given by the formula: where: The Droop quota finds the smallest number of votes that will fill the required number of seats and no more. 
 * Votes = the total number of valid (unspoilt) votes cast
 * Seats = the number of seats to be filled

__ Finding the winners __
An STV election proceeds according to the following steps: This process repeats from step 1 until the required number of candidates have been elected. Whether votes are transferred to elected candidates depends on the particular counting system chosen; systems that allow this subsequently redistribute the surplus, again. A manual count is often halted when the number of seats to be filled equals the number of remaining candidates instead of counting votes until all candidates have reached a quota. Also, if the number of votes transferred is insufficient to either elect a candidate or change the order of candidates in the ranking, then multiple candidates may be excluded at once or a surplus may be held instead of being transferred. These procedures are common if ballots which do not list a full ranking of candidates become exhausted, because it is then possible for an insufficient number of candidates to reach the quota. Because in STV, candidates who receive excess votes and candidates who are excluded have their votes transferred to other candidates, it is said to minimise [|wasted votes]. There are two basic forms of counting an STV election: one is based on the number of ballot papers allocated to a candidate; the other, more accurate system, is based on the value of the vote as it progresses throughout the count. This variance is important in the calculation of a candidate's surplus. The paper-based formula (the surplus divided by the number of ballot papers) undermines proportionality and the "one vote, same value" principle due to some votes increasing in value at the expense of other votes. The value-based formula (the value of the vote divided by the surplus) avoids these shortcomings, ensuring proportionality and maintaining the "one vote, same value" principle. 
 * 1) Any candidate who has reached or exceeded the required quota is declared elected.
 * 2) If not enough candidates have been elected, the count continues.
 * 3) If a candidate has more votes than the quota, then their surplus is transferred to other candidates according to the next preference on each voter's ballot.
 * 4) If no one meets the quota, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are transferred.

__ An example __
Suppose a food election is conducted to determine what to serve at a party. There are 5 candidates, 3 of which will be chosen. The candidates are: //Oranges//, //Pears//, //Chocolate//, //Strawberries//, and //Sweets//. The 20 guests at the party have the preferences marked on their ballots in the two tables below (the first is a numerical representation, the second is pictorial). In the following table only some of the second preferences and none of the lower preferences are shown because they happen to not be needed in the count (a different set of votes could be constructed where first, second and third preferences of some voters must be considered). x x x x ||~ x x x x ||~ x ||~ x || First, the quota is calculated. Using the Droop quota, with 20 voters and 3 winners to be found, the number of votes required to be elected is: When ballots are counted the election proceeds as follows: x x x x x x x x ||~ x ||~ x || Round 1: **Chocolate is declared elected, since Chocolate has more votes than the quota** ||  x x ||~ x x x x x ||~ x x x || Round 2: **Chocolate's surplus votes transfer proportionately to Strawberry and Sweets according to the Chocolate voters' second choice preferences. However, even with the transfer of this surplus no candidate has reached the quota. Therefore Pear, who has the fewest votes, is eliminated.** || x x ||~  ||~ x x x x  x x ||~ x x x x x ||~ <span style="color: rgb(0,51,255);">x <span style="color: rgb(255,68,255);">x x || Round 3: **Pear's votes transfer to their second preference, Oranges, causing Orange to reach the quota and be elected. Orange barely meets the quota, and therefore has no surplus to transfer.** || <span style="color: rgb(0,204,51);">x x ||~  ||~ <span style="color: rgb(204,102,0);">x x x x <span style="color: rgb(255,68,255);"> x x ||~ <span style="color: rgb(204,102,0);">x x x x <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">x ||~ <span style="color: rgb(0,51,255);">x <span style="color: rgb(255,68,255);">x x || Round 4: **Neither of the remaining candidates meets the quota, so Sweets are eliminated. Strawberry is the only remaining candidate and so wins the final seat.** || Result: **The winners are** Chocolate**,** Oranges **and** Strawberries**.
 * ~ *** of Guests ||~ <span style="color: rgb(255,153,51);">x x x x ||~ <span style="color: rgb(0,204,51);">x x ||~ <span style="color: rgb(204,102,0);">x x x x
 * 1st Preference || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Orange-fruit-2.jpg/50px-Orange-fruit-2.jpg width="50" height="49" caption="Orange" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Orange-fruit-2.jpg"]] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/PearPhoto.jpg/50px-PearPhoto.jpg width="50" height="75" caption="Pear" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PearPhoto.jpg"]] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Chocolate.jpg/50px-Chocolate.jpg width="50" height="39" caption="Chocolate" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chocolate.jpg"]] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Chocolate.jpg/50px-Chocolate.jpg width="50" height="39" caption="Chocolate" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chocolate.jpg"]] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/FraiseFruitPhoto.jpg/50px-FraiseFruitPhoto.jpg width="50" height="41" caption="Strawberry" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FraiseFruitPhoto.jpg"]] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Caramel-1.jpg/50px-Caramel-1.jpg width="50" height="40" caption="Candy" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Caramel-1.jpg"]] ||
 * 2nd Preference ||  || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Orange-fruit-2.jpg/50px-Orange-fruit-2.jpg width="50" height="49" caption="Orange" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Orange-fruit-2.jpg"]] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/FraiseFruitPhoto.jpg/50px-FraiseFruitPhoto.jpg width="50" height="41" caption="Strawberry" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FraiseFruitPhoto.jpg"]] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Caramel-1.jpg/50px-Caramel-1.jpg width="50" height="40" caption="Candy" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Caramel-1.jpg"]] ||   ||   ||
 * ~ Candidate: || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Orange-fruit-2.jpg/50px-Orange-fruit-2.jpg width="50" height="49" caption="Orange" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Orange-fruit-2.jpg"]] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/PearPhoto.jpg/50px-PearPhoto.jpg width="50" height="75" caption="Pear" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PearPhoto.jpg"]] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Chocolate.jpg/50px-Chocolate.jpg width="50" height="39" caption="Chocolate" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chocolate.jpg"]] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/FraiseFruitPhoto.jpg/50px-FraiseFruitPhoto.jpg width="50" height="41" caption="Strawberry" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FraiseFruitPhoto.jpg"]] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Caramel-1.jpg/50px-Caramel-1.jpg width="50" height="40" caption="Candy" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Caramel-1.jpg"]] ||
 * ~ Round 1 ||~ <span style="color: rgb(255,153,51);">x x x x ||~ <span style="color: rgb(0,204,51);">x x ||~ <span style="color: rgb(204,102,0);">x x x x
 * ~ Round 2 ||~ <span style="color: rgb(255,153,51);">x x x x ||~ <span style="color: rgb(0,204,51);">x x ||~ <span style="color: rgb(204,102,0);">x x x x
 * ~ Round 3 ||~ <span style="color: rgb(255,153,51);">x x x x
 * ~ Round 4 ||~ <span style="color: rgb(255,153,51);">x x x x

__ STV EXPLAINED! __ [|Animated Explanation]

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