Scottish council elections: STV voting system explained

For the first time the Scottish local government elections will be decided by the single transferable voting (STV) system.

The system

• Voters number the candidates in order of choice using 1, 2, 3. They put the number 1 in the voting box next to their first choice, 2 next to their second choice and 3 next to their third choice.

• Voters can choose how many candidates to number. They don’t have to number every candidate. As long as they number at least one, their vote will be counted.

The result

• To be elected, a candidate must receive a set amount of votes known as the quota. The quota number depends on how many people voted in the ward and the number of seats to be filled.

• Stage one: First choices are counted. Anyone who has enough first choices to reach the quota is elected. If all the seats are filled, the counting ends.

• Stage two (if needed): Any votes received over the quota are not needed by the elected candidate and so are transferred proportionally to the second choice on the ballot paper. If not enough candidates have then reached the quota, the candidate with the lowest number of votes is excluded and all of their votes are passed to the next choice on the ballot papers. Anyone who reaches the quota is elected.

• Further stages (if needed): This process is repeated until three or four candidates have been elected.