Single Transferable Vote Consultation

This consultation has now closed.

Local County Council elections in Wales use the first-past-the-post system. Here in Powys, we are looking into the possibility of moving to the Single Transferable Vote system and changing the way you vote in our local County Council elections.

In order for us to consider the change we would like to know what you think. 

Our Councillors will then use this information to decide whether or not to adopt the Single Transferable Vote system for our local elections, from 2027 onwards, by the deadline set out by Welsh Government of 15 November 2024.

The first-past-the-post system

In most areas of Wales, we use the first-past-the-post system to elect local Councillors, who look after issues specific to your local area. 

How do people vote?

When you vote in an election which uses first-past-the-post, you are given one ballot paper.

The instructions on the ballot paper will tell you how many people you’re allowed to vote for. You may be able to vote for more than one person because more than one person will represent you, and you are asked to simply mark an X next to the name(s) of the candidate(s) you want to vote for.

How are candidates elected?

Once the votes are counted the candidate(s) with the most votes are elected.

The Single Transferable Vote system

In Wales, we can use a system called Single Transferable Vote (or STV) to elect local Councillors. No Council in Wales has moved to the STV system yet, but Gwynedd and Ceredigion County Councils are also considering the change.

The STV system is a form of proportional representation designed to allow voters more choice than just one candidate.

At the moment, most residents in Powys are used to having a single Councillor representing their ward, as only eight of our 60 wards currently have more than one Councillor. 

If we were to introduce the STV system, we would still have 68 Councillors, but rather than one Councillor representing everyone in a ward, we would have bigger wards with between three and six Councillors representing each one.

The number of Councillors in each ward would be determined by Welsh Government with recommendations from the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru.

How does it work?

Please watch the video below from The Electoral Commission, explaining how the single transferable vote system works:

What are the Pros and Cons for Single Transferrable Vote system?

STV aims to achieve proportional representation. This means that parties or candidates receive seats in proportion to the number of votes they receive. This can lead to a more accurate reflection of the voters' preferences in the composition of the Council. The ability to rank the candidates on your ballot paper means that your votes are more likely to contribute to the election of a candidate you support. Even if your first-choice candidate doesn't win, your vote can be transferred to your next choice. This reduces the number of wasted votes, where votes for losing candidates do not contribute to the election outcome. STV encourages candidates to appeal to a broader range of voters as they will need to gather second and subsequent preference votes. This can foster cooperation and coalition building among different parties and candidates. STV can also enhance the representation of smaller/minority groups. STV provides voters with a greater choice of candidates within a party, allowing you to vote for individuals rather than just parties.

The STV system might be difficult to understand, which we could help by providing information and materials to voters. The complexity of the STV system might put off some voters, leading to a feeling of disconnection from the electoral process if they do not fully understand how their votes are being counted. There is the potential for an increase in spoilt ballot papers. Multi Councillor wards may lead to bigger ballot papers, and the order candidates appear could be an issue if they are listed alphabetically rather than using a system which randomises the order, which may be expensive. The more complex counting process will result in the count taking a minimum of two days and thereby doubling the cost of the count. Initial counts under an STV system could be longer as count staff get used to the new process. The longer counting process can delay the announcement of election results compared to other voting systems.

Have your say

  You can leave your feedback online through our online consultation form below.

  Paper versions of this consultation and form are available to download and print here (including Easy Read) or you can pick one up from libraries across Powys, please ask a member of staff for a copy.

  The closing date to provide us with your feedback is Monday 30 September 2024.