Local Government (General) Regulation 2021

For the election of 1 member, the votes are to be counted in accordance with Schedule 4.

For the election of 2 or more members, the votes are to be counted and the result of the election ascertained in accordance with the following procedures—

one of the candidates is elected in accordance with subsection (1),

all the unrejected ballot-papers are rearranged under the names of the respective candidates in accordance with the first preferences marked on the ballot-papers, except that each ballot-paper on which a first preference for the elected candidate is indicated is placed in the parcel of the candidate next in the order of the voter’s preference,

the number of ballot-papers in the parcel of each candidate is counted and the total number of votes counted for each candidate is ascertained,

if a candidate then has an absolute majority of votes, the candidate is elected,

if a candidate does not have an absolute majority of votes, the count proceeds according to Schedule 4, section 3(d), (e) and (f), until 1 candidate has received an absolute majority of votes,

Schedule 4, section 3(d) and (e) are to be read for this section as if a reference in those paragraphs to first preference votes were a reference to all the votes counted to a candidate under this subsection,

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

If more than 2 candidates are to be elected, the votes are to be counted in accordance with the procedures under subsection (2) until the result of the election of additional candidates is ascertained.

In the process of counting under subsection (1) or (2), exhausted ballot-papers are set aside as finally dealt with and are not taken into account in the election of a candidate.