Proportional Representation - NSW Legislative Council

		NSW Legislative Council
	Name of PR System	Optional preferential proportional representation
Ballot Paper	Ticket Voting Above or beside the line voting	Yes. Above the line voting.
	Rotation of candidate names	No. Order of names determined by the party or group.
	Directions	You may vote in one of two ways: either, Placing the number 1 in the square above the group of candidates candidates by placing consecutive numbers beginning with the number 2 in the boxes above the additional groups of candidates in order of your preferences for them; or Place numbers from "1" in consecutive numbering to at least "15" in the squares opposite the names of 15 candidates in order of your preferences for them. You may if you wish vote for additional candidates by placing consecutive numbers beginning with the number "16" in the squares opposite the names of those additional candidates in the order of your preferences for them. 21 candidates to be elected to serve 2 terms of Parliament.
	Formality	A vote above the line is informal if: there is no first preference (number 1) shown in one Group Voting Square; or there is more than one first preference. A vote below the line is informal if: there are not at least 15 numbers; or there is more than one first preference. A single tick or cross above the line is accepted as a first preference, although ticks or crosses are not accepted below the line. Where the elector has recorded a formal vote both above and below the line, the vote below the line takes precedence. If above the line is informal and below the line is formal (or vice versa) the formal vote is accepted. Where two numbers (other than the number 1) are repeated or a number omitted from a sequence, the vote is accepted up to the repetition or omission. This applies to voting above and below the line.
Distribution of a Surplus	Method of distribution of surplus votes and calculation for new transfer value	When distributing the votes of an elected candidate a transfer value is calculated to determine how many ballot papers are passed on to the continuing candidates. Transfer Value = Number of surplus votes Number of ballot papers to be distributed - exhausted votes The transfer value will almost invariably be less than 1. The number of ballot papers to be distributed is multiplied by the transfer value. The result is the number of ballot papers retained by each candidate. The remainder are set aside as the quota. NSW differs from other systems in Australia in that the ballot papers to be passed on to other candidates are selected at random.
Election of a candidate	Exclusion of candidates	Ballot papers passed on to continuing candidates from excluded candidates are always transferred at full value i.e. value of 1.
Election of a candidate	Exclusion of the lowest candidate when two or more are equal	Exclude the candidate drawn by lot.
Casual Vacancies	How is a casual vacancy filled?	The new member is elected at a joint sitting of Upper and Lower Houses. Generally nominations are limited to the party for which the member vacating the seat was elected.

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