Quota (STV)

The Quota is

For instance the Droop formula is

Quota ={Votes Cast}+1 divided by {Number of Seats + 1}

So, in a 7-member constituency of 800,000 voters, all turning out to vote, the quota would be (800000/8 +1) = 100,00. A candidate with more than the necessary quota of 1st choice votes has the surplus redistributed to the 2nd choice, so there is no "wasted vote". If no candidates beat the quota, those with the fewest votes get eliminated, with their second choice votes being redistributed until the next person beats the quota.