Scouting Ireland National Council Voting Procedure

Transcription

1 No. SID 137/16 Gasóga na héireann/scouting Ireland Issued Last Amended 14 th May 2016 Next Review Date May 2019 Source: National Management Committee and Chief Teller Scouting Ireland National Council Voting Procedure Revision Date Description # 14/05/2016 Document Issued Introduction The system of voting used by Scouting Ireland in elections that take place at the meetings of the National Council shall be by proportional representation by single transferable vote (PR- STV). Proportional representation means that as a delegate, you can indicate your first and subsequent choices for the candidates on the ballot paper. Ballot Boxes Ballot boxes will be sealed by the nominated Chief Teller and will not be available for delegates to cast their vote until at least 30 minutes after the start of the meeting. Preparing Ballot Papers National Office will prepare the ballot papers on behalf of the National Secretary (or Elections Officer). Ballot papers for each election will be prepared on different colour paper to assist delegates differentiating between the elections and to assist tellers separating ballot papers during the count. Candidates will be listed on the ballot paper along with their photograph in alphabetical order. How to Vote by Proportional Representation You vote for candidates in order of preference. You mark the ballot paper by putting 1 opposite the name of your first choice candidate and, if you wish, 2 opposite the name of your second choice and so on. Delegates may stop marking their paper after 1 or any subsequent preference or they may go right down the ballot paper until a preference has been given to all candidates ending with the candidate of your lowest choice. What you are saying is: "I want to vote for candidate A. If the situation arises where A does not need my vote because he/she has been elected or excluded from the count, I want my preference to continue to candidate B." and so on. SID 137/16 Page 1 of 10

2 Only one of the preferences in your vote is active at a time. The vote stays with your first preference candidate unless and until he/she does not need it any more (either because he/she has been elected or excluded from the count). If your vote is transferred, it passes to your next highest preference for a candidate still in the running. Your vote could transfer a number of times at the same election to your lower preference candidates. Determining the Quota When the papers have been counted and sorted, the quota is then calculated. This is the minimum number of valid votes each successful candidate must get to be elected. The quota is calculated as the minimum number of votes, which will fill the available positions and no more. The quota is calculated by dividing the Total Valid Poll by one more than the number of seats to be filled, ignoring any remainder and then adding 1 vote. For example, in an NMC election with three (3) positions available with 1,000 votes cast, 1,000 divided by 3 plus 1 (that is, 4) = 250; 250 plus 1 is 251. This is the quota of votes to be reached by the candidates and it means that only three persons can be elected. The formula for calculating the quota is shown as follows: 1, = This is the lowest number of votes which three candidates can obtain (753) but four cannot (1,004). Any candidate whose first preferences equal or exceed the quota is deemed electable. The first count is generally the only time the votes of all candidates are examined and sorted. The second and subsequent counts at a PR- STV election involve either the distribution of the surplus of an elected candidate or exclusion of the lowest candidate(s) and distribution of his/her/their votes. Spoilt Votes A spoiled ballot paper is one that has been incorrectly completed or not filled in at all. Spoiled votes are not counted towards any candidate but are set aside. A ballot paper is spoiled if: ñ it is unmarked, ñ it has not received the official mark of the presiding officer and is not considered authentic, it has writing on it which identifies the voter, or the voter's intention is not clear. A vote will be spoiled if: SID 137/16 Page 2 of 10

3 ñ it has no first preference mark, ñ there is more than one first preference mark. ñ a tick or cross has been used as a first preference mark and there is subsequent preferences indicated ñ there is more than one first preference mark, Total Valid Poll In Scouting Ireland elections, the total valid poll for determining the quota excludes any spoilt votes, save in circumstances where only one candidate seeks election per rule 120 in Scouting Ireland elections, the total valid poll for determining the quota shall include spoil votes Surplus votes If a candidate receives more than the quota on any count, the surplus votes are transferred to the remaining candidates in proportion to the next available preferences indicated by voters (that is, the next preference on each vote for a candidate who has not been elected or eliminated). Where a candidate is elected at the second or at later count, only the votes that brought them over the quota are examined in the surplus distribution, that is, the parcel of votes last transferred to the elected candidate. If 2 or more candidates exceed the quota at the same time, the larger surplus is distributed first. Where there is no surplus for distribution, the lowest unelectable candidate is eliminated next, Where a candidate is eliminated, all of their votes are transferred to the next available preferences on the ballot paper. ing continues until the required number of Candidates are elected.. Rechecks The Chief Teller can decide at any time to re- examine and recheck all or any of the ballot papers. Candidates can, before the result is formally declared to the meeting of the National Council request a recheck of all votes. Declaring Results When all positions have been filled and any rechecks are concluded, the Chief Teller formally informs the National Secretary who informs that National Council consistent with SID National Council Elections Policy. SID 137/16 Page 3 of 10

4 Relevant Rules and Policies Reference Rule 118 Content All members of the National Council are entitled to one vote. Rule 119 All voting, apart from voting in an election for any Appointment by the National Council, shall be by open show of voting cards or by using an electronic voting system. If the vote is taken by open show of voting cards the vote may be taken by secret ballot where a proposal for such is accepted by one third of those members present and voting. Rule 120 All elections, save where there is one candidate for a position, shall be by proportional representation by single transferable vote. Where there is only one candidate seeking election, the candidate shall only be deemed elected if they receive fifty percent plus one vote of the votes cast. The votes cast shall include any spoiled votes cast. Rule 121 In the event of an equality of votes the Chairperson shall have a casting vote Rule 122 Motions shall be passed by a simple majority save where otherwise provided in the Constitution and by these Rules. SID National Council Elections Policy SID 137/16 Page 4 of 10

5 Appendix A - Worked Examples Election with one (1) candidate for one (1 position) Position: International Commissioner Candidate: Baden Powell Name Yes 655 Elected No 102 Spoilt 25 Total Votes 800 Voting Cards Issued: 782 Total Valid Poll: (Total votes cast) 762 Number of Positions: 1 (50% + 1): 382 Result Baden Powell Elected on the first count having exceeded 50% +1 SID 137/16 Page 5 of 10

6 Election with two (2) candidates for one (1 position) Position: International Commissioner Candidates: Josh and Karen Name 2 nd Trans Josh 337 Elected on first count Karen 254 Spoilt 26 Total Votes 617 Total Valid Poll 591 Quota (Rounded up) 296 Voting Cards Issued: 647 Total Valid Poll: (Total votes cast 617 less spoilt votes 26) 591 Number of Positions: 1 Quota: 296 Eliminated: Result Karen Josh Elected on the first count having exceeded the quota Or Election with two (2) candidates for one (1 position) Position: International Commissioner Candidates: Josh and Karen Name 2 nd Trans Josh 269 Elected on first count Karen 268 Spoilt 80 Total Votes 617 Total Valid Poll 537 Quota (Rounded up) 269 SID 137/16 Page 6 of 10

7 Voting Cards Issued: 647 Total Valid Poll: (Total votes cast 617 less spoilt votes 80) 537 Number of Positions: 1 Quota: 269 Eliminated: Result Karen Josh Elected on the first count having not exceeded the quota or Name Josh Karen Spoilt Total Votes Trans Tied Tied 2 nd Total Valid Poll 570 Quota (Rounded up) 286 Voting Cards Issued: 647 Total Valid Poll: (Total votes cast 597 less spoilt votes 27) 570 Number of Positions: 1 Quota: 286 Eliminated: Result N/A Tied Result. Rule 121 is implemented In the event of an equality of votes the Chairperson shall have a casting vote. SID 137/16 Page 7 of 10

8 Election with three (3) candidates for one (1 position) Position: International Commissioner Candidates: Josh, Karen and Vera Name Josh Karen Vera Spoilt Non Transferable Total Votes 2 nd Trans Elected Eliminated 135 Eliminated Total Valid Poll 726 Quota 364 # of Voting Cards Issued: 749 Total Valid Poll: (Total votes cast 743 less spoilt votes 17) 726 Number of Positions: 1 Quota: 364 Eliminated: Vera after as lowest candidate Karen after 2 nd as all positions have been filled Distribution: Distribution 1: Vera s Preferences 135 Result: Josh on 2 nd having reached the Quota Election: National Management Committee Positions Available: 3 Ordinary Member Positions where on this occasion at least 2 Must be under 26 Candidates: Alex, Billy (U26), Catherine (U26), Daniel, Evelyn (U26), Frank (U26) and Gerry. SID 137/16 Page 8 of 10

9 Name Cou nt 2nd (1) 2nd (2) 2nd (3) 3rd Surplus (25) Dist (123) Dist (31) Dist (51) Alex 31 Elimated after 1st count Billy*** (+1) 146 (+31) 169 (+23) Elected 2nd Catherin e*** (+3) 136 (+23) 140 (+4) 172 (+28) Elected 3rd Daniel 123 Elimated after 1st count Evelyn* ** 69 71(+2) 92(+21) 94(+2) 82(+10) Elimated after 3rd count Frank** * (+6) 50 (+12) 51 (+1) Elimated after 2nd count Gerry 194 Elected 1st Spoilt 6 Non Transfer able Total 677 Votes Total 671 Valid Poll Quota 168 *** Candidates that qualify for under 26 rule Voting Cards Issued: 700 Total Valid Poll: (Total votes cast 677 less spoilt votes 6) 671 Number of Positions: 3 (2 at least must be U 26) Quota: 168 : Gerry elected on the first count having exceeded the quota Elimination of both Daniel (123) and Alex (31) as no positions are now available for Over 26 candidates 2 nd Distribution of Gerry s Surplus ( ) 25 preferences Distribution of Daniels 123 preferences Distribution of Alex 31 preferences Billy Elected on the 2 nd having reached the quota SID 137/16 Page 9 of 10

10 3 rd Elimination of Frank has he was lowest candidate and distribution of his 51 preferences Catherine Elected on the 2 nd having reached the quota Elimination of Evelyn Result Gerry Elected on the first count having exceeded the quota Billy Elected on Second count having reached the quota (Under 26) Catherine Elected on Third count having reached the quota (Under 26) SID 137/16 Page 10 of 10