The preference system used in New South Wales (NSW) local government elections is known as optional preferential voting within a proportional representation framework. Here's how it works:

1. Voting Above the Line: When you vote above the line on the ballot paper, you are voting for a group of candidates as a whole. By marking a single box above the line, your vote goes to the entire group in the order that the group has predetermined. If the group receives enough votes to elect more than one candidate, the preferences are automatically distributed to the next candidate in the group.

2. Voting Below the Line: If you choose to vote below the line, you can mark your preferences for individual candidates. You do this by numbering the candidates in the order of your preference. You can choose to number as many or as few candidates as you like. If your first choice candidate doesn’t have enough votes to be elected, your vote will be transferred to your next preference, and so on, until a candidate is elected or all your preferences are exhausted.

3. Counting the Votes: Votes are counted in stages:

• First Preference Count: All the first preference votes are counted. If a candidate or group receives enough votes to reach the quota (the number of votes required to be elected, based on the total number of votes cast and the number of available seats), they are elected.

• Transfer of Surplus Votes: If a candidate or group has more votes than the quota, the surplus votes are transferred to the remaining candidates or groups according to the preferences indicated by voters.

• Elimination and Redistribution: If no candidate meets the quota after the first count, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates according to the next preferences marked on the ballot papers. This process continues until all the seats are filled.

4. Importance of Preferences: Preferences are crucial because they allow your vote to continue counting even if your top choice isn't successful. This ensures that your vote still contributes to electing a candidate or group that aligns closely with your values. It also means that voting strategically—by understanding how your preferences might be distributed—can have a significant impact on the final outcome of the election.

In summary, the preference system allows for a more representative outcome by enabling votes to be transferred based on voter preferences, ensuring that the final elected candidates reflect a broader consensus within the community.

Watch the video to learn more.