Preferential Counting methods

[Guest Kevin]

Our organization has an election coming up in which ballots are mailed in to a third party to be counted. The voting is done by preferential voting. The counting method we have used in the past has been done by placing the ballots into piles by the first choice for each candidate. If a majority is not reached, the candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated and their ballots re-distributed to the other candidates by second choice votes. This is repeated until a majority is reached.

This year, we have changed our bylaws to have 4 officers (pres, vp, sec, and trea)and 3 directors at large. The officer counting poses no question, but what counting method should we use for the 3 director positions when each member will be voting for 3 candidates? Do we use our old method and once a candidate has a majority and is elected, redistribute his ballots by second choice?

As for instructions for the voters, should we have them vote by preference for each candidate? Say there are 6 candidates, Should we have them vote 1 through 6, or should they vote for 3 candidates as first choice and 3 as second choice?

[Josh Martin]

This year, we have changed our bylaws to have 4 officers (pres, vp, sec, and trea)and 3 directors at large. The officer counting poses no question, but what counting method should we use for the 3 director positions when each member will be voting for 3 candidates? Do we use our old method and once a candidate has a majority and is elected, redistribute his ballots by second choice?

As for instructions for the voters, should we have them vote by preference for each candidate? Say there are 6 candidates, Should we have them vote 1 through 6, or should they vote for 3 candidates as first choice and 3 as second choice?

Preferential voting is only permitted if authorized by the Bylaws, and if it is authorized the organization should develop its own rules to handle it. (RONR, 10th ed., pg. 411, lines 28-29; pg. 413, lines 25-28) Under the sample method used in RONR, which is quite similar to what you've been doing, you would simply continue the process until all but the necessary number of candidates have been eliminated. (RONR, 10th ed., pg. 413, lines 17-24) There's really no need to do anything else different.