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:
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| 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. |
| 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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