If an Independent senate candidate (eg Liz) reaches a quota after counting of first preferences and she is 129 votes in excess. Which 129 ballots get preferences distributed?
All 930 votes have their second preferences distributed, because there’s no way to determine which individual ballots are the excess.
The key is that the second preferences are transferred at a reduced rate proportional to the excess. i.e. (excess votes for Liz) divided by (total votes for Liz). In this case 129/930 = 0.13. All second preferences on ballots that first preferences Liz are distributed “worth” 0.13 votes.
If an Independent senate candidate (eg Liz) reaches a quota after counting of first preferences and she is 129 votes in excess. Which 129 ballots get preferences distributed?
Not explained in this video.
All 930 votes have their second preferences distributed, because there’s no way to determine which individual ballots are the excess.
The key is that the second preferences are transferred at a reduced rate proportional to the excess. i.e. (excess votes for Liz) divided by (total votes for Liz). In this case 129/930 = 0.13. All second preferences on ballots that first preferences Liz are distributed “worth” 0.13 votes.
See the Transferring the surplus section on this official AEC information.
Edit: This is explained in the video you linked from 4:31 by the way.
You champion! That makes sense. Sorry, I didn’t think the video would backtrack to correct their initial simplifiction.