I have much enjoyed reading Dr Kev’s election coverage, and his explanations of HC, tactical voting etc.
But one question has always puzzled me: if a candidate gets over a quota on first preferences (or actually, at any point in the count) and his/her surplus is distributed to the second preference, WHICH ACTUAL voting papers are physically put in the #2 preference candidates’ piles?
Because obviously, the second preference on all surplus ballot papers will not be the same, let alone on all the papers that are in the pile that make up the quota on first preferences.
Is there some mathematical calculation of the proportion of #2 preferences for each candidate out of all #2 preferences of ALL the #1 preference on the papers that make up the quota plus surplus?
If so it sounds incredibly complex, but must be the only fair way of doing it?
Please explain!!
