Single Transferable Vote system rejected

18 October 2024

The move to a Single Transferable Vote system and a change to the way people vote in local Powys County Council elections, has been rejected.

During a public consultation held between 12^th August and 30^th September, 60.5% of the 1270 respondents supported adopting the STV system for future local county council elections, with 27.6% preferring the current first-past-the-post system.

In order for the change to be approved by full council, at least a 2/3 majority (46 out of 68 votes) was required. Following yesterday's debate (17^th October), 21 out of 68 councillors voted in favour of the change, falling short of the number needed to move to the alternative voting system.

Cllr James Gibson-Watt, Leader and Cabinet Member for an Open and Transparent Powys, said: "Thank you to everyone who took part in the consultation, your feedback was an important part of our decision-making process.

"Following our full council debate on the matter, we have decided that as a council we are unable to move to the new voting system for our local County Council elections. The vote clearly showed that the majority of Councillors do not think it would be the right decision to change at this time."