How PR-STV Works in Ireland
Proportional Representation with a Single Transferable Vote
1Ranked Preferences
Voters rank candidates on the ballot paper as 1, 2, 3, etc., in order of preference. You can vote for as many or as few candidates as you like. If your favorite candidate has too many or too few votes, your vote is not wasted; it transfers to your next choice.
2The Droop Quota
To win a seat, a candidate must reach a target number of votes called the quota. We calculate the quota using the formula:
In a 3-seat constituency with 10,000 votes, the quota is 2,501.
3Transfers & Eliminations
If a candidate exceeds the quota, they are elected and their surplus votes are transferred to next preferences. If no one meets the quota, the lowest-placed candidate is eliminated, and all their votes are distributed. This continues until all seats are filled.
Constituency Vote Transfer Simulator
Configure first-preference votes in a mock 3-seat constituency (total 10,000 votes) and watch how the PR-STV rounds transfer votes until 3 candidates are elected.
Droop Quota Calculation
Total votes: 10,000. Standard 3-seat threshold.