London Mayoral elections

[thekumquat]

Hadn't appreciated until this weekend that the Mayoral election doesn't automatically count second-choice votes for the top two candidates and add them to first-choice votes. It only does this if no candidate gets 50% of first-choice votes

Comments

[ciphergoth]

Actually the difference you've noticed doesn't really make a difference. If Boris gets over 50% of the vote, he'll still win whether or not second preference votes are counted.

Believe me, if it made a difference whether Ken was your first or second choice I'd be shouting it from the rooftops. So long as Ken is on your ballot and Boris isn't, you're doing your bit to stop Boris.

[djm4]

What he said. If Boris gets over 50% of the first preference votes, he's got over 50% of the votes no matter how you split the other votes, and he's won. It means that if *everyone* voted Ken as first preference, he'd still only have less than 50% of the total vote.

[thekumquat]

D'oh!

[softfruit]

I find it easiest to think of the 2-vote system London uses for mayor as the First Vote Hope, Second Vote Fear electoral system.

[haggis]

Two chances to say "Anyone but Boris?"

[dr_jen]

Thank you for the mealtime company yesterday, ok to add you on lj?

[thekumquat]

Yes, go ahead! I think I added you before and only deleted you when I forgot who you actually were...

[dr_jen]

Thanks :-)