ElectionChamp
STV Voting for Multi-Seat Elections
Collect ranked ballots in ElectionChamp, export them when voting closes, and count the result in our free STV Excel calculator.
STV voting (single transferable vote) fills several seats so the winners reflect each group's share of support. Voters rank candidates. Anyone who reaches a quota is elected, and surplus votes or votes for excluded candidates move to the next ranked choice. ElectionChamp does not count STV in the app. You collect ranked ballots in ElectionChamp, export the results as CSV and run them through our free STV Excel calculator.
STV meaning: what single transferable vote does
STV stands for single transferable vote. It is a form of proportional representation voting for multi-seat elections. Each voter has one vote, expressed as a ranking. During the count that vote can move from one candidate to the next, which is where the name comes from.
The goal is proportional results. If 40% of members back one group of candidates, that group should win about 40% of the seats. Plurality voting for several seats can hand every seat to the largest bloc. STV gives smaller groups a fair share of seats.
How STV voting works
An STV count follows three rules.
- Set the quota. The Droop quota is the smallest number of votes that guarantees a seat: valid votes divided by the seats plus one, rounded down, plus 1.
- Elect and pass on the surplus. A candidate who reaches the quota is elected. Votes above the quota pass to those voters' next choices at a fractional value.
- Exclude the lowest. If no one reaches the quota, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and those ballots move to their next choice.
The count repeats until every seat is filled. Fractional transfers are slow by hand, which is why most organizations use a calculator.
STV example with a Droop quota
A student union elects 3 executives from 6 candidates. 400 members vote. The Droop quota is 400 divided by 4, which is 100, plus 1: 101 votes.
| Candidate | First count | After Ava's surplus | After Fay excluded | After Eli excluded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ava | 150 | 101 (elected) | 101 | 101 |
| Cara | 90 | 90 | 101 (elected) | 101 |
| Ben | 60 | 100 | 100 | 124 (elected) |
| Dan | 50 | 59 | 59 | 74 |
| Eli | 30 | 30 | 39 | Excluded |
| Fay | 20 | 20 | Excluded | Excluded |
- Step 1: Ava passes the quota. Her 49 surplus votes move to her voters' next choices: about 40 to Ben and 9 to Dan.
- Step 2: No one else has 101, so Fay is excluded. Her 20 ballots move on: 11 to Cara and 9 to Eli. Cara reaches 101.
- Step 3: Eli is excluded next. His 39 ballots go 24 to Ben and 15 to Dan. Ben reaches 124 and takes the last seat.
Real counts carry fractional values, so the calculator shows decimals. The numbers here are rounded for clarity.
When STV fits
- Multi-seat boards that should reflect different groups, such as regions, chapters or member types.
- Councils and senates that fill many seats at once.
- Student unions electing executives or councillors from a large field.
- Associations and unions whose constitutions already name STV.
STV is harder to explain than plurality, and members need clear instructions. For a single seat, STV gives the same result as instant runoff. If you fill one seat, or your bylaws do not name STV, plurality or ranked choice with Borda points may suit you better. Confirm the method with your bylaws and counsel.
How to run an STV election with ElectionChamp
- Get the calculator. Ask our team for the free STV Excel calculator before voting opens, and try it with sample rankings.
- Build a ranked ballot. Add a question, choose Ranked choice and add every candidate. Explain the ranking and the STV count in the voter instructions.
- Hide the in-app totals. The in-app result for a ranked question is a Borda point total, which is not the STV result. Set result visibility to Administrator so voters do not see it.
- Run the vote. Send single-use keys by email, SMS or printed keys. Voters rank candidates in any browser.
- Export the ranked results. When voting closes, download the ranked results as CSV.
- Count in the calculator. Run the CSV through our free STV Excel calculator. It applies the quota and transfers votes until every seat is filled.
- Announce and keep records. Share the calculator's result with members directly, and keep the CSV and the exported audit log with your minutes.
The vote itself is priced like any other election. See pricing.
STV Voting Questions
STV stands for single transferable vote. It is a ranked, multi-seat method that elects candidates in proportion to their support.
No. ElectionChamp collects the ranked ballots and exports the results as CSV. The quota and transfers are calculated in our free STV Excel calculator.
Ask our team for the free STV Excel calculator. Get it while you plan the election so you can test it with sample rankings before voting opens.
It is the smallest number of votes that guarantees a seat. Divide the valid votes by the number of seats plus one, round down, and add one.
Yes. STV gives groups of voters a share of seats close to their share of the vote, without party lists.
The vote is priced like any ElectionChamp election: free up to 20 voters, $10 flat for 21 to 200, and $0.05 per voter above 200. The calculator is free.
Collect ranked ballots online and count STV for free
Ask our team for the free STV Excel calculator, then run your vote in ElectionChamp. Setup and testing cost nothing.
Questions? Email support@electionchamp.com