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Dear Participants, 

	Elvedina Vrazalica,  OSCE Professional Development  Department

Alternative vote, also known as the majority-preferential voting system, is a relatively unusual electoral system. Today, it is only used at a national level in Australia (for elections to the lower house), and, in a modified form, in Nauru. 

The voter is asked to indicate his/her first and alternative preferences among the candidates on a ballot. 

In order to win, a candidate must receive majority support. Where no candidate has more than 50 percent of the first preferences cast, the candidate with the lowest number of first preferences is eliminated. The ballots of the eliminated candidate are then transferred to the second preferences expressed by those voters. The process continues until a candidate receives majority support. As soon as one candidate's total first preferences plus votes transferred from defeated candidates equals more than 50 percent of the ballots cast, that candidate is declared elected. 

"...it is sometimes argued that the preferential system is the best system for dealing with elections in deeply divided societies."

The preferential system enables supporters of candidates, who have little hope of being elected, to influence, via their second and later preferences, the election of a major candidate. For this reason, it is sometimes argued that the preferential system is the best system for dealing with elections in deeply divided societies, as it can compel candidates to seek not only the votes of their own supporters but also the "second preferences" of others. 

To attract these preferences, candidates must make broad-based, centrist appeals to all interests, and not focus on narrower sectarian or extremist issues. The experience of preferential voting in the relatively stable social environment of Australia has also tended to support these arguments. The major parties, for example, typically try to strike bargains with minor parties for the second preferences of their supporters prior to an election - a process known as "preference swapping". Furthermore, because of the majority support requirement, preferential voting increases the consent given to elected members, and thus can enhance their perceived legitimacy. 

A discussion followed the presentation and the participants mentioned the following points: 

For more information on preferential voting please contact the AEOBiH secretariat. Contact details on page 1.