This year’s Guild Elections will be decided using the Single Transferable Vote, or STV.
STV is a form of proportional representation, and candidates do not need a majority of votes cast to win.
The electorate selects candidates by numbering them in order of preference, with votes then being transferred between candidates as per the instructions given by the voter.
If a candidate is mathematically unable to win, or if they already have enough votes to secure their place in the next round of voting, then their vote will be transferred to the next candidate on a voter’s order of preference. This ensures that very few votes are wasted, and that everyone’s vote has been taken into account.
STV has been promoted by the National Union of Students (NUS) as their preferred method of voting for student union elections. The format is known for putting power in the hands of the voters, since votes are not wasted unnecessarily. This leads to more voters being able to identify with the eventual winner, and indeed arguably improves the chosen representative’s accountability.
Secondly, the fact that candidates are ranked in order of preference means that those wishing to be elected are seeking both first and lower preference votes, inherently reducing the effectiveness and chance of negative campaigning.
Owen Keating, News Editor
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