Method of Voting

Source:  Electoral Commission NSW 2007

22 February 2007

Legislative Assembly

The Legislative Assembly consists of 93 members, with each member being elected to represent an electoral district for a four year term.

The method of voting in a Legislative Assembly election is optional preferential.  This means that to cast a formal vote the elector must place the number '1' in the square next to their first choice candidate.  They have the 'option' to show further preferences by placing the number '2' in the square next to their second choice candidate, the number '3' next to their third choice and so on.  They may number as many or as few squares as they wish.

If the elector does not vote in the manner described above then the vote may be informal and not counted.....

How votes are counted

To be elected in an optional preferential count, a candidate requires an 'absolute majority' of formal votes in the count (50% +1).  If a candidate has more than half the total formal first preference votes in the count, the candidate is elected.

If no candidate has an 'absolute majority', the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded from the count.  That candidate's votes are moved on to the other candidates according to the next preference shown by electors on those ballot papers.

Ballot papers which do not show a 'next preference' for a continuing candidate are 'exhausted ballot papers', and play no further part in the distribution preferences.

This process of excluding the candidate with the fewest votes continues until a candidate obtains an 'absolute majority' and is declared elected.  However for statistical purposes the distribution of preferences will be continued until only two candidates remain.