Editing Single transferable vote (section)

==Use==

STV has seen its widest adoption in the [[English-speaking world]]. In the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]], two countries {{snd}}Malta and Australia{{snd}} use STV at the federal level. Australia also uses it at the state level, and some Australian cities use it as well.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/2024-local-council-elections/melbourne-city-council/results | title=Results }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://pastvtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/LG2401/sydney/councillor | title=City of Sydney – Councillor Election results }}</ref> Ireland uses STV at local and national levels. Estonia and Denmark used a form of STV previously for national elections.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shrestha |title=Position of Nepali Congress in the Electoral Politics of Nepal}}</ref> Nepal uses STV to elect some of each state's electoral college, which in turn is used to elect members of the [[National Assembly (Nepal)|National Assembly]].

===National legislatures===
The table below lists countries that use STV to fill a nationally elected [[legislative body]] by direct elections.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Country
! Body
! Type of body
! Quota
! Constituencies
! [[Proportional representation#District magnitude|District magnitude]]
! Governmental system
! Since
! Notes
|-
| [[Elections in Australia|Australia]]
| [[Australian Senate|Senate]]
| [[Upper house]] of legislature
| [[Droop quota]]
| [[States and territories of Australia]]
| {{plainlist|
* 6 (for each [[States and territories of Australia#States|state]])
* 2 (for the [[Australian Capital Territory|ACT]] and [[Northern Territory|NT]], each)
}}
| [[Parliamentary system]]
| 1948{{efn|STV was previously used to elect the [[Tasmania]]n members of both the Senate and the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] in the inaugural [[1901 Australian federal election|1901 federal election]].}}
| With the option of using a [[group voting ticket]] from 1983 until 2016
At a full senate election triggered by a [[double dissolution]], all 12 senators for each state are elected.
|-
| [[Elections in the Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| [[Dáil Éireann]]
| [[Lower house]] of legislature
| [[Droop quota]]
| [[Dáil constituencies|Constituencies]]
| 3–5
| [[Parliamentary system]]
| 1921{{efn|STV was previously used for the [[Dublin University (constituency)|Dublin University constituency]] in [[1918 Irish general election|the 1918 general election]].}}
| Constituencies have a constitutionally mandated minimum magnitude of 3, and a legally mandated maximum magnitude of 5
|-
| [[Elections in Malta|Malta]]
| [[Parliament of Malta|House of Representatives]]
| [[Unicameral]] legislature
| [[Droop quota]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Electoral Commission of Malta – General Election |url=https://electoral.gov.mt/ElectionResults/General |access-date=21 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.um.edu.mt/r/projects/maltaelections/stvsystem/howmaltavotes|title=How Malta Votes: An Overview – Malta Elections|website=www.um.edu.mt}}</ref>
| [[Districts of Malta#Electoral Districts|Constituencies]]
| 5
| [[Parliamentary system]]
| 1921
| If elected members are from only two parties, the party with the most first-preference votes is allocated additional members to reach majority of seats in the chamber if necessary
|}

===Other bodies===

{|class="wikitable"
!Country
!Body/region
!Type of body
!Quota
!District magnitude
!Since
!Notes
|-
| rowspan="13" | [[Elections in Australia|Australia]]
| [[Australian Capital Territory]] [[Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]]
|State legislature (lower house)
|Droop
|5–7
|1992
| elections (since 1992)
|-
| [[Norfolk Island]]
|Local governments
|
|
|2016
| Local government elections (since 2016)
|-
| [[Northern Territory]]
|Local governments
|
|
|2011
| Local government elections (since 2011)
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[New South Wales]]
|State legislature (upper house)
|Droop
|21 (half the chamber at a time – staggered terms)
|1978
| with the option of using a group voting ticket until 2003
|-
|Local governments
|
|
|2012
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[South Australia]]
|State legislature (upper house)
|Droop
|11 (half the chamber at a time – staggered terms)
|1981
| rowspan="2" |{{plainlist|
* [[South Australian Legislative Council|Legislative Council]] elections (since 1982 – with the option of using a [[group voting ticket]] from 1985 until 2017)
* Local government elections (since 1999)
* Local First Nations Voice elections (since 2023)
}}
|-
|Local governments
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Tasmania]]
|State legislature (lower house)
|Droop
|5
|1907
|
|-
|Local governments
|
|
|
| {{plainlist|
* [[Tasmanian House of Assembly|House of Assembly]] elections (since 1896)
* Local government elections (since 1993)
}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]
|State legislature (upper house)
|Droop
|5
|
| rowspan="2" |{{plainlist|
* [[Victorian Legislative Council|Legislative Council]] elections (since 2003 – with the option of using a [[group voting ticket]])
* Local government elections (since 2003)
}}
|-
|Local governments
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Western Australia]]
|State legislature (upper house)
|Droop
|5–7<ref>{{Cite book |last=Farrell and McAllister |title=Australian Electoral System |pages=60–61}}</ref>
|
| rowspan="2" |{{plainlist|
* [[Western Australia Legislative Council|Legislative Council]] elections (since 1987 – with the option of using a [[group voting ticket]] until 2021)
* Local government elections (since 2023)
}}
|-
|Local governments
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Elections in the Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| Ireland's delegation to the [[European Parliament]]
|Supranational parliament
|
|
|[[1979 European Parliament election in Ireland|1979]]
|
|-
| [[Local government in the Republic of Ireland|Local government elections]]
|
|
|
|1920{{efn|STV was previously used for the [[1919 Sligo Corporation election|1919 special election]] for [[Sligo Corporation]].}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Elections in Malta|Malta]]
| [[Malta (European Parliament constituency)|Malta's delegation]] to the [[European Parliament]]
|Supranational parliament
|
|
|2004
|
|-
| Local government elections
|Local governments
|
|5–13
|1993
| 2015 reform abolished staggered terms and half-council elections. Range of district magnitude: 5 (Mosta) to 13 (Birkirkara).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://electoral.gov.mt/ElectionResults/LocalCouncil?v=808 | title=Electoral Commission of Malta }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://localgovernmentdivision.gov.mt/en/lc/Mosta/Pages/The-Local-Council/Mayor-and-Councillors.aspx | title=Mayor and Councillors }}</ref>
|-
| [[Elections in New Zealand|New Zealand]]<ref name="STV-NZ">{{cite web |title=Single Transferable Vote |url=https://www.stv.govt.nz/index.shtml |publisher=[[Department of Internal Affairs]] |access-date=25 April 2025}}</ref>
| [[Local government in New Zealand|Local government elections]]
|Local governments
|NZ method<ref>{{Cite Legislation NZ|legislation_type=secondary|link_name=ler2001250 |legislation_title=Local Electoral Regulations 2001 |legislation_number=SR 2001/145 |clause=Schedule 1A|secondary_type=regulations |jurisdiction=true}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Glossary |url=https://www.stv.govt.nz/glossary.shtml#stv |publisher=[[Department of Internal Affairs]] |access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref>
|
| [[2004 New Zealand local elections|2004]]{{efn|STV had previously been used for [[Christchurch City Council]] elections in 1917, 1929, 1931 & [[1933 Christchurch mayoral election|1933]], and [[Woolston, New Zealand|Woolston Borough Council]] elections in 1917 & 1919.<ref>{{cite web|title=STV legislation, background and further information |url=https://www.stv.govt.nz/legislation.shtml |publisher=[[Department of Internal Affairs]] |access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref>}}
| {{plainlist|
* [[Regions of New Zealand|Regional council]] elections: [[Greater Wellington Regional Council]], [[Otago Regional Council]] ([[2025 New Zealand local elections|2025]]) 
* [[Unitary authority#New Zealand|Unitary authority]] elections: [[Marlborough District Council]], [[Nelson City Council]] ([[2022 New Zealand local elections|2022]]), [[Gisborne District Council]] (2022)
* [[Territorial authority]] elections:
* {{block indent|1=[[Dunedin City Council]], [[Far North District Council]] (2022), [[Hamilton City Council (New Zealand)|Hamilton City Council]] (2022),<ref>{{cite web |date=6 August 2020 |title=Hamilton City Council switches to STV system for elections |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/122356263/hamilton-city-council-switches-to-stv-system-for-elections |access-date=6 August 2020 |website=Stuff}}</ref> [[Kāpiti Coast District Council]], [[New Plymouth District Council]], [[Palmerston North City Council]], [[Porirua City Council]], [[Ruapehu District#Ruapehu District Council|Ruapehu District Council]], [[Tauranga City Council]], [[Wellington City Council]], [[Whangārei District Council]] (2025)<ref name="STV-NZ"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/local-elections-2022/12-09-2022/as-easy-as-1-2-3-how-to-vote-using-stv |website=The Spinoff |date=12 September 2022 |access-date=29 September 2022 |title=As easy as 1, 2, 3: How to vote using STV |first=Graeme |last=Edgeler}}</ref>}}
* [[District health board]] elections: all 20 boards (until the district health boards were replaced in 2021)
}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Elections in the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Elections in Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland]]
|Devolved legislature
|
|5
|
| rowspan="2" |{{plainlist|
* [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] elections (since [[1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election|1998]]){{efn|STV was previously used for the [[1921 Northern Ireland general election|1921]] and [[1925 Northern Ireland general election|1925 elections]] to the Northern Ireland parliament.}}
* Local government elections
}}
|-
|Local governments
|
|
|
|-
| [[Elections in Scotland|Scotland]]
|Local governments
|
|1–5
|
| [[Local government in Scotland|Local government elections]] (since [[2007 Scottish local elections|May 2007]])<ref>{{Cite web | title=(PDF) Detailed description of the stv count in accordance with the rules in the scottish local government elections order 2007 | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233430071_Detailed_description_of_the_stv_count_in_accordance_with_the_rules_in_the_scottish_local_government_elections_order_2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127014155/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233430071_Detailed_description_of_the_stv_count_in_accordance_with_the_rules_in_the_scottish_local_government_elections_order_2007 | access-date=28 December 2024 | archive-date=27 November 2022}}</ref> (districts of 1 to 5 members)<ref>"News Release: Final Proposals for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands council areas submitted to Scottish Ministers" (PDF) (Press release). Boundaries Scotland. 28 May 2021</ref>
|-
| [[Elections in the United States|United States]]
| Local government elections
|Local governments
|
|9 at-large (Cambridge); 
3-seat wards (Portland, Oregon)
|
| {{plainlist|
* City elections in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]] (multi-member, at-large district); [[Eastpointe, Michigan]], [[Palm Desert, California]]; Albany, New York; St. Paul, Minnesota; St. Louis Park, Minnesota; Portland, Oregon (multi-member wards); and [[Portland, Maine]] (multi-member, at-large district).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/53914/RCVC_Report_2020-12-01 |title=Ranked-Choice Voting Commission Report |author=Amherst Town Council |access-date=4 November 2021 |archive-date=4 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104174455/https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/53914/RCVC_Report_2020-12-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Portland, Maine, Question 4, Proportional Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment (November 2022) |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Portland,_Maine,_Question_4,_Proportional_Ranked-Choice_Voting_Amendment_(November_2022) |access-date=20 November 2022 |website=[[Ballotpedia]]}}</ref>
* At-large municipal board seats<ref>{{cite web |title=What offices are elected using Ranked-Choice Voting? |url=http://vote.minneapolismn.gov/rcv/what-is-rcv |access-date=31 December 2017 |website=What is Ranked-Choice Voting? |publisher=City of Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327150043/http://vote.minneapolismn.gov/rcv/what-is-rcv |url-status=dead }}</ref> in [[Minneapolis]], Minnesota
* Historically, during the [[Progressive Era]], in 21 other cities [[History and use of the single transferable vote|between 1915 and 1960]], including New York City for [[New York City Council]] from 1937 to 1947 (multi-winner districts; uniform quota)<ref>{{cite web |last=FairVote.org |title=Learning from the past to prepare for the future: RCV in NYC |url=https://www.fairvote.org/_learning_from_the_past_to_prepare_for_the_future_rcv_in_nyc |access-date=14 May 2019 |website=FairVote |date=3 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=History of RCV |url=https://www.rankedchoicevoting.org/history_rcv |access-date=14 May 2019 |website=Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/latest-news-and-research/publications/a-short-history-of-stv-in-the-us/|title=A short history of STV in the US|website=www.electoral-reform.org.uk}}</ref>
}}
|}

====Indirect====
Indirect use of STV, where not citizens, but bodies elected by citizens elect another body. Not to be confused with [[indirect single transferable voting]].
{| class="wikitable"
!Country
!Body/region
!Type of body
!Notes

|-
| [[Elections in the Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| [[Seanad]] general elections
|[[Upper house]] of legislature
| Upper house, since 1925
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Elections in India|India]]
| [[Rajya Sabha]]
|[[Upper house]] of legislature
|
|-
| [[Vidhan Parishad]] (in few states)
|
|
|-
| [[Elections in Nepal|Nepal]]
| [[National Assembly (Nepal)|National Assembly]]
|[[Upper house]] of legislature
| [[National Assembly (Nepal)|Upper house]] elections by provinces and local assemblies since 2018
|-
| [[Elections in Pakistan|Pakistan]]
| [[Senate of Pakistan|Senate]]
|[[Upper house]] of legislature
| Indirect by provincial assemblies and direct by [[Federally Administered Tribal Areas]])
|}

===Historic use of STV for election of legislative bodies===

{|class="wikitable"
!Country
!Body/region
!Type of body
!From
!Until
!Replaced by
!Notes
|-
| Canada
| Provincial legislative assemblies of [[Alberta]] and [[Manitoba]]
|Unicameral provincial governments
| 1920s
| 1950s
| [[First-past-the-post voting]]<ref>A Report on Alberta Elections; Parliamentary Guide</ref>
|-
| [[Estonian SSR]]
| [[Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic|Supreme Soviet]]
|Unicameral legislature
| 1990
| 1992
| [[Party-list proportional representation]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://escholarship.org/content/qt9510610w/qt9510610w_noSplash_f408452bfb6b7384fad96622f560cbef.pdf |title=Electoral systems change in Estonia |first=Bernard |last=Grofman |display-authors=et. al. |access-date=27 February 2023}}</ref>
|
|-
| [[Fiji]]
| [[Parliament of Fiji|Parliament]]
|Unicameral legislature
| 1998
| 2013
| [[Party-list proportional representation]]
|
|-
| Ireland
| Seanad
|[[Upper house]] of legislature
| 1925
| 1925
| Indirect elections, university elections
|Direct (19 elected in single country-wide contest)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Irish Senate elections of 1925 |url=https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/h1925.htm |access-date=30 January 2024 |website=www.ark.ac.uk}}</ref>
|-
| [[Isle of Man]]
| [[House of Keys]]
|Lower house of legislature
| 1982
| 1995
| [[Plurality block voting]] in two-seat districts
|
|-
| [[United Kingdom]]
| [[House of Commons]]
|Lower house of legislature (University constituencies)
| 1918
| 1950
| University constituencies were abolished
| <ref>{{Cite web |title=The history of university representation |url=https://wonkhe.com/blogs/the-history-of-university-representation/ |access-date=13 March 2025 |website=wonkhe.com}}</ref>
|}