An election shall be decided by the totting up of votes for each candidate. In the first count the preferences expressed under rule 18(b) will be ignored.
Under rule 19 the winners of the election are those with the highest number of votes overall, with vacancies filled by the candidates with the highest number votes in descending order, until all vacancies are filled.
In the event that candidates receive the same number of votes this shall not cause an issue unless there are more candidates with equal votes than there are vacancies. For example, if there are three remaining vacancies and two out three candidates have matching votes the provisions of rule 19(b) need not be invoked. All three are elected. If there are three candidates for two vacancie; candidates with the larger vote compared with the third, take the remaining places.
Should, however, for further example, there be two candidates with equal votes and only one vacant post, the provisions under rule 19(b) shall be utilised to decide the election. In such a case scrutineers shall calculate the arithmetical total of the preference votes for the candidates who are otherwise tied. He or she who has the lower score will be determined to have received a higher preference overall by virtue of the highest preference being deemed as "1".
In the further case where this calculation fails to break the tie, in an election held at an Annual General Meeting, the membership shall vote again, by show of hands, in the absence of the candidates. Where this situation arises at a ballot held under Rule 17(b) a run off ballot shall be held as soon as it is convenient to do so. Meanwhile the committee may run with both candidates, neither having a vote.
Page updated 30 May 2013 by Richard Salmon, with text from Gavin Bennett.