38 Proportional Representation. 



most papers. In case of equality the Returning Officer must 

 exercise a casting vote. A list of the candidates in the order 

 in which their heaps are arranged is then made out. The 

 order of the candidates on this list will be frequently 

 referred to as the order of priority of the candidates on the 

 first count, and use will be made of it in all cases where 

 otherwise it would be necessary for the Returning Officer to 

 exercise a casting vote. 



The next step is to determine the quota, or number of 

 votes sufficient for the return of a candidate. This is done 

 by the following rule. 



Divide, to the exclusion of fractions, the number of 

 votes polled by a number greater by one than the number 

 of seats to be filled, and add one to the result. 



Thus, if there be 15 seats the quota would be 100 if the 

 number of votes polled were 1584 or 1599, or any number 

 intermediate to these two. 



Having determined the quota, the next step is to ascertain 

 what candidates, if any, have attained the quota. Here, then, 

 two cases arise. First, let us suppose that no candidate has 

 more than the quota. Then the next step is to exclude the 

 candidate who is lowest on the first count. The heap of the 

 excluded candidate is then examined, and the papers in it 

 are transferred to the heaps of the candidates, if any, who 

 are indicated as the second choice of the electors. For 

 example, let A, B, C, &c, denote the candidates, of whom Z 

 is the lowest, and suppose, on examination, we find that 

 ZA = 12, ZB = 10, Zl = 23, where ZA is used to denote 

 the number of papers on which Z is marked 1 and A is 

 marked 2, and so on, whilst Zl denotes the number of 

 papers on which no name is marked except that of Z, we 

 should then transfer the 12 ZA papers to A's heap, and the 

 10 ZB papers to B's heap. The 23 Zl papers are of no use, 

 and are lost. 



We should now proceed to a new scrutiny. If, however, 

 any papers are lost, as in the preceding example, the total 

 number of papers which can have any effect on the election 

 is diminished, and we should determine a new quota, taking 

 account only of the useful papers left. For example, if the 

 number of votes cast be 1599, as supposed above, we have 

 now in the example just given 1576 useful papers left, and 

 the new quota would be 99. 



This process of excluding the lowest on each count, and 

 distributing any papers which can be distributed, and 



