What is STV?

Single Transferable Vote (STV) is a voting system implemented in a number of councils around New Zealand.

First Past the Post (FPP) is the older voting system and still the most common system in local government elections. However, in recent years the Single Transferable Vote (STV) has been used in the local elections of some councils.

How does STV the voting work?

You give candidates you want to get your vote a number next to their name, starting with the number “1”.

You rank candidates in your order of preference, with “1” being your first preference, “2” being your second preference, “3” being your third preference, “4” being your fourth preference choice, and so on.

 

“You can vote for as many or as few candidates as you like.”

How to vote using STV, The Department of Internal Affairs

 

How does the STV counting work?

First preference votes are counted for each candidate.

If a candidate’s total reaches a computer calculated quota they get elected to the seat.

The elected candidate’s excess votes (when a candidate received more votes than the quota) are considered surplus and these ‘spill over’ votes are then divided between other candidates based on voters’ second preferences.

If no candidate reaches the quota, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and the other candidates get the second preference votes from people who gave their first preference vote to the eliminated candidate.

This process is repeated until enough candidates reach the quota for election.

The quota is often re-calculated after each round of counting and the system works its way down voters’ preferences.

Further details can be found on these Department of Internal Affairs webpages:

https://www.stv.govt.nz/counting.shtml

https://www.stv.govt.nz/electing.shtml

 

How do I stop my vote being wasted in STV?

  1. Make sure you vote and get your ballot paper returned before voting closes (That is before noon on 11 October 2025).
  2. Make sure you rank rank (with numbers) all the candidates that you want to have on your local council (or board).
  3. Avoid your vote becoming an “Informal” vote. The “Informal” votes are not counted toward any candidate. To avoid your vote becoming an “Informal” vote in an STV system, use the number “1” once, don’t use ticks, and don’t use the same number more than once.
  4. Ranking multiple candidates can reduce the chances your vote will be wasted. Your 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th (and so on) preferences can be counted and can be important. If you only give a ranking number to one or two candidates, your vote can be wasted if those candidates win easily or are eliminated early in the counting. When multiple seats are available in an STV election the surplus or ‘spill over’ votes can be important in determining which candidates win seats in the council chamber (or on the board).

 

“The transfer of votes is done in order of voters’ preferences. This means that surplus votes are not “wasted” but are available to help other candidates to get elected.”

How candidates are elected, The Department of Internal Affairs

 

How do I prevent my STV vote going to candidates I don’t agree with?

If you don’t want a candidate in council (or on a board), then don’t rank that candidate at all.

You don’t have to rank or number all the available candidates.

Which councils are using STV in the 2025 elections?

  • Dunedin City Council
  • Far North District Council
  • Gisborne District Council
  • Greater Wellington Regional Council
  • Hamilton City Council
  • Kāpiti Coast District Council
  • Marlborough District Council
  • Nelson City Council
  • New Plymouth District Council
  • Otago Regional Council
  • Palmerston North City Council
  • Tauranga City Council
  • Porirua City Council
  • Ruapehu District Council
  • Wellington City Council
  • Whangarei District Council

The Department of Internal Affairs website is one of the most reliable sources of information on which councils are using the STV system in this election.

https://www.stv.govt.nz/index.shtml

[Editor’s Note:  LGNZ’s 2025 Candidate Guide is incorrect about Kaipara District Council using STV. Both the Kaipara District Council website and Department of Internal Affairs show that Kaipara District Council has returned to using FFP for the 2025 election]

[Editor’s Note: This Q & A article has been written to be consistent with the information presented in Section 5B of the Local Electoral Act 2001 and the Department of Internal Affairs website. Details about of “Informal” vote judgements can be found in these SOLGM guidelines.]