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Electoral systems

The Local Electoral Act 2001 offers the choice between two electoral systems for local government elections: first past the post (FPP) and the single transferable vote (STV).

Councils have the option to decide whether to stay with their current electoral system (either FPP or STV), or whether to change to the alternative system for the next triennial election. This decision must be made two years prior to the next election.

Waikato Regional Council resolved at its meeting on 28 August 2008 to hold the 2010 triennial election under the First Past the Post (FPP) electoral system. This was publicly notified on 5 September 2008.

The key differences between FPP and ST are summarised below:

	FPP	STV
Casting a vote	You place ticks equal to the number of vacancies next to the candidate(s) you wish to vote for. In multi-member constituencies you cast one vote for each vacancy to be filled. In single-member constituencies you cast one vote.	You cast one single vote regardless of the number of vacancies by consecutively ‘ranking’ your preferred candidates beginning with your most preferred candidate (‘1’) your next preferred candidate (‘2’) and so on. In multi-member constituencies you cast a single vote by ranking as few or as many candidates as you wish, as above. In single-member constituencies you cast a single vote by ranking as few or as many candidates as you wish.
Counting votes	The candidate(s) with the most votes win(s).	The candidate(s) are elected by reaching the ‘quota’ (the number of votes required to be elected). Vote counting is carried out by computer.
Announcing results	Results can usually be announced soon after voting ends. Results are announced and published showing the total votes received by each candidate.	Because vote counting is multi-part, it is likely to take longer than for FPP election. Results are announced and published showing elected candidates in the order they reached the quota and unsuccessful candidates in the reverse order they were excluded. All elected candidates will have the same share of the vote.