Countback elections

What is a countback?

A countback fills a casual vacancy when a councillor was elected under proportional representation (i.e. two or more elected at once).

  • Each vacancy has its own countback
  • Sitting councillors aren’t affected

Who can be elected?

Only unelected candidates from the last ordinary election.

  • The returning officer contacts eligible candidates
  • Candidates must apply to take part
  • Non-applying candidates can’t be elected

If:

  • No eligible candidates → an attendance by-election is held
  • One eligible candidate → they’re elected
  • Multiple eligible candidates → a countback is held

How countback works

The countback uses the same ballot papers from the last ordinary election

  • Preferences from each ballot paper are stored in a data file.
  • The Proportional Representation Count Computer (PRCC) runs the countback using this data.
  • For each ballot paper where the vacating councillor received a preference, that preference is reallocated to the next highest preferred candidate.

 

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