Page 4834 - Week 15 - Thursday, 8 December 1994
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(d) squares for the indication of preferences on each ballot paper shall appear only alongside the names of individual candidates;
(e) a voter shall not be taken to have marked any preferences beyond the numbers, starting with "1" for the candidate with the first preference, marked by the voter in the squares alongside the names of individual candidates;
(f) ballot papers shall be -
(i) prepared and collated in accordance with the method known as the Robson Rotation; and
(ii) distributed and issued;
as set out in Schedule 2 to the Electoral Act 1992, being that Schedule as in force on 1 December 1994;
(g) a candidate whose total votes equal or exceed a relevant quota as defined in Schedule 4 to the Electoral Act 1992, being that Schedule as in force on 1 December 1994, shall be declared elected;
(h) unless the number of successful candidates is equal to the number of vacancies, any surplus votes for a successful candidate shall be transferred to continuing candidates in accordance with the next available preferences indicated on ballot papers that were counted for the successful candidate.
(j) if there are no surpluses to be distributed, the candidate with the least total votes shall be excluded and the ballot papers counted for the excluded candidate shall be transferred to continuing candidates in accordance with the next available preferences, if any, indicated on each ballot paper;
(k) where there are 2 or more eligible candidates in relation to a casual vacancy, the vacancy shall be filled by a recount of the ballot papers counted for the person who, at the last election before the vacancy occurred, was elected to the seat in which the vacancy has occurred.".
Clause 4 encapsulates the principles themselves. The principles have been amended in line with comments and suggestions made by the Electoral Commissioner. I think they reflect fairly accurately what the basic elements of the proportional representation system that we have adopted actually do, although I note the comments made by the Chief Minister. I think that they conform to the principles which are, I believe, at the heart of the Hare-Clark system.
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