Cr Andrew Simms was invited to make a few comments at a meet-the-candidates event hosted by the Dunedin Area Citizens Association in Mosgiel on April 16.
One topic he covered was the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system, which involves ranking candidates in order of preference.
If a voter’s first preference is eliminated from the race, the vote transfers to their second preference, then third preference and so on — depending on who remains in the race.
It also depends on whether a voter numerically ranked candidates on their ballot paper as a form of insurance if their first preference drops out.
‘‘So if you like three of these people up here in front of you tonight, vote for all three of them in whatever order you choose.
‘‘Do not make the mistake of voting for just one of them and thinking that you’re doing the right thing,’’ Cr Simms said.
A voter’s first choice could never be disadvantaged by their subsequent preferences, he said.
‘‘Just vote for the person you really like and anybody else that you can live with.’’
