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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 67

The Quota—what Based Upon

The Quota—what Based Upon.

Applying this system to New Zealand, with the facts and figures before enumerated, as furnished by the late general election, it will be of interest to note its effect., and in the noting exemplify the mode of operation of the system. Before doing so, it may be well to explain that the meaning of the rule laid down for finding the elective quota, in which the number of votes cast is divided by the number of seats, plus one. The object of the plusage is to prevent the possibility of there being a number of votes to spare at the close of the election equal to a quota, after all the seats are filled, which might occur were the quota found by dividing the votes cast by the exact number of seats to be filled. For example: Suppose an election at which 8,000 votes are given for three seats; 8,000 divided by 3+l is 2,000, and the quota will be 2,001, by the rule taking the next highest number to the quotient as the quota, Any candidate receiving 2,001 votes must be elected, because 2,001×3=6,003, leaving only 1,997 for the remaining man or men—not a quota.