Limited Preferencial Voting
Elections for the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea will now use the Limited Preferential Voting system. This system requires the voter to make three (3) choices of candidates. The candidates' numbers and names will appear on a Candidate Poster and a voter will then write either the names or candidate numbers of his/her three preferred candidates on the ballot paper.
The ballot paper is a separate piece of paper and will contain the listed numbers or preferences 1, 2, and 3, with brackets beside each box. This is to show that a voter has three choices to make, beside each number. The boxed number 1 is used to indicate the voter's most preferred candidate (1st choice). The boxed number 2 is used for the second preferred candidate (2nd choice) and boxed number 3 for the third preferred candidate (3rd choice). (see sample Candidate Poster & sample Ballot Paper)
For a candidate to be elected under the LPV system, they must receive more than 50% + 1 of the total formal votes cast in the election. This is called an Absolute Majority. Once a candidate has reached an Absolute Majority, they can be declared elected, because no other candidate can obtain a greater number of votes.
