Local Government (General) Regulation 2021

The votes are to be counted and the result of the election ascertained in accordance with the following procedures—

the unrejected ballot-papers are arranged under the names of the respective candidates by placing in a separate parcel all those on which a first preference is indicated for the same candidate,

the total number of first preferences given for each candidate on such ballot-papers are then counted,

the candidate who has received the largest number of first preference votes is elected if that number constitutes an absolute majority of votes,

if no candidate has received an absolute majority of first preference votes, a second count is made,

on the second count the candidate who has received the fewest first preference votes is excluded, and each unexhausted ballot-paper counted to him or her is counted to the candidate next in the order of the voter’s preference,

if a candidate then has an absolute majority of votes, he or she is elected, but if no candidate then has an absolute majority of votes, the process of excluding the candidate who has the fewest votes and counting each of his or her unexhausted ballot-papers to the continuing candidate next in the order of the voter’s preference is repeated until one candidate has received an absolute majority of votes,

the candidate who has received an absolute majority of votes is elected.

Any exhausted ballot-papers are set aside as finally dealt with and are not taken into account in the election of a candidate.