Salford Mayoral Elections 2012: The Supplementary Vote system explained step by step

By Alex McIntyre

The voting system being used in the Salford mayoral elections is the Supplementary Vote System.

1. Voters pick first and second choices.

2. First choices are then counted.

3. If a candidate secures a majority of votes they win.

4. If a majority has not been reached after the first round then the top two candidates go through to a second round and all the other candidates are eliminated.

5. The second-choice votes for people whose first-choices have been eliminated are then counted.

6. Any votes for the remaining two candidates are then added to their first round totals.

7. The candidate who has the most votes after the second preferences have been allocated is declared the winner.

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