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Counting single transferable votes
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<p>The <a href="/facts/Single_transferable_vote/LXDo1Grm">single transferable vote</a> (STV) is a <a href="/facts/Proportional_representation/69pRhsx9">proportional representation system</a> and <a href="/facts/Ranked_voting/z91UKPCs">ranked voting rule</a> that elects multiple winners. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to their first-ranked candidate. Candidates are elected (<i>winners</i>) if their vote tally exceeds the <a href="/facts/Electoral_quota/SzaCGSgb">electoral quota</a><i>.</i> Any surplus votes (those exceeding quota) are transferred from winners to the remaining candidates (<i>hopefuls</i>) according to the surplus ballots' next usable back-up preference. </p><p>The system attempts to ensure <a href="/facts/Proportionality_for_solid_coalitions/PjjDBD1l">factions are represented proportionally</a>, without the need for official <a href="/facts/Party_list/jFyWurXx">party lists</a>, by having each winner elected with roughly the same number of votes. There are several variants of the Single Transferable Vote, each with different properties. </p>