The Supplementary Vote (SV) system is an electoral method used in the UK for electing mayors and police commissioners. It allows voters to select a first and second choice candidate, aiming to secure a majority by combining these preferences. If no candidate wins outright, a second round redistributes votes from eliminated candidates to the top two, ensuring the winner has broad support. The system is compared to Alternative Vote and First Past The Post, highlighting its unique approach to representation.
Show More
The Supplementary Vote System is an electoral process where voters select their first and second choice candidates
The Supplementary Vote System aims to ensure that the elected candidate has broad support and a majority of the vote
The Supplementary Vote System differs from other systems, such as First Past The Post and Alternative Vote, in its use of second preference votes and its goal of achieving a majority winner
The Supplementary Vote System is primarily used in the United Kingdom for the election of mayors and police and crime commissioners
In the Supplementary Vote System, voters mark their ballot with a '1' for their first-choice candidate and a '2' for their second choice, and a second round of counting occurs if no candidate receives a majority in the first round
Variations of the Supplementary Vote System are used in other countries, such as the 'Contingent Vote' in New Zealand and for presidential elections in Sri Lanka
The Supplementary Vote System has been criticized for potentially favoring consensus candidates and not fully capturing voter preferences
The Supplementary Vote System promotes majority support for the winner and allows voters to indicate a backup preference, enhancing voter engagement and preventing vote splitting
Limiting voters to only two preferences and the complexity of the system can pose challenges for voter comprehension and participation