Detail of STV in the count
Once voting has closed, and all complaints are resolved, we count the results. Even though our digital platform means a lot of the counting process is automated, this can be a complex task!
Preferential voting means that there are lots of rounds, in which some candidates may be discounted and subsequent preferences redistributed. You can see the results of past election counts online: 
Importance of 2nd Preferences
Candidates will generally campaign to convince you to vote them as your 1st preference for a position. However, our elections are often swung by voters' 2nd, 3rd, and 4th preferences.
These are counted when your 1st preference candidate is discounted as the lowest scoring candidate in a round of the count.
We strongly encourage you to think carefully about your other preferences when voting. You can use as many or as few as you like!
