Lebanon Elections 2018: What Is the Preferential Vote?
Local Editor
How do we vote according to the new electoral system? What is the Preferential Vote?
After years of political bickering, rival factions in Lebanon have agreed upon the adoption of a new parliamentary electoral system.
In the 2018 parliamentary elections, the Lebanese will be voting according to the proportional representation (PR) electoral system, for the first time in Lebanon's history.
Based on this electoral system, the country will be divided into 15 electoral constituencies, comprising one or more districts - Qadaa in Arabic - as follows:
• Beirut will be divided into two districts.
• Mount Lebanon will be divided into four districts.
• South Lebanon will be divided into three districts.
• The Beqaa will be divided into three districts.
• North Lebanon will be divided into three districts.
• South Lebanon will be divided into three districts.
• The Beqaa will be divided into three districts.
• North Lebanon will be divided into three districts.
The term "Preferential Vote" is the most recent addition to the Lebanese electoral system. But how does it work?
Each voter shall vote for one of the competing lists and shall be entitled to cast one preferential vote for a candidate of the same list he/she had chosen.
The preferential vote is likely to be restricted to candidates of the district/qadaa that the voter hails from if the electoral constituency comprises more than one qadaa.
How is the Preferential Vote calculated?
- The preferential votes obtained by each candidate is calculated separately
- The sum is divided on the total preferential votes obtained by all candidates from the lists of the same district
- Arrange all candidates from top to bottom according to the proportionality obtained by each candidate
- The candidate with the highest percentage wins successively until each list meets its quota or seats are filled for each sect
- A candidate from a particular sect may win even after obtaining fewer votes than a candidate from the same sect, since there are vacant seats on his list
- A candidate may lose his place in a list if he is preceded by other candidates
Source: Al-Ahed News
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