Which electoral system uses voters ranking candidates and transfers votes to fill multiple seats with quotas?

• A. IRV
• B. STV
• C. Plurality
• D. Gerrymandering

Answer: (B)

This item focuses on a voting method that uses ranked ballots and transfers votes to fill several seats based on a quota. Voters rank candidates, and a quota is set (such as a Droop quota). When a candidate reaches the quota, they are elected, and any surplus votes beyond the quota are transferred to the next preferences on those ballots. If no candidate has reached the quota, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are redistributed according to the next available preferences. This process of electing candidates and transferring votes continues until all seats are filled. This combination of ranking, vote transfers, and a quota to allocate multiple seats is what makes this system capable of producing proportional representation across several seats. Other options either don’t use a quota to fill multiple seats, or aren’t multi-seat systems at all, or are about manipulating district boundaries rather than a voting method.