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\nFormer National MP Tim Macindoe is the frontrunner for Hamilton mayoralty.
\nPhoto: \u00a9VNP \/ Phil Smith\n<\/p>\n
A large voter turnout on Saturday is expected to alter the final standings in Hamilton’s local election race.<\/p>\n
Progress results showed Tim Macindoe as frontrunner to become the city’s new mayor.<\/p>\n
However, the council declared ‘Super Saturday’ and said the volume of last-minute votes would have an effect.<\/p>\n
Saturday’s progress result excluded special votes and votes received on election-day morning.<\/p>\n
More than 5500 votes were cast on Saturday in Hamilton.<\/p>\n
If Macindoe was confirmed as mayor, then the standings in the East Ward, where he was the top-ranked candidate, would have to be recalculated under the city’s single transferable vote system (STV).<\/p>\n
STV involved ranking candidates by number, rather than ticking a certain number of preferred candidates.<\/p>\n
The Internal Affairs website said candidates must reach a certain number of votes to get elected.<\/p>\n
“If a candidate is elected, they keep only the proportion of the vote they need to reach the quota. The surplus part of each vote is transferred to the voter’s second preference.”<\/p>\n
This continues down through the candidates, until no more candidates have enough support to get elected.<\/p>\n
“The transfer of votes is done in order of voters’ preferences. This means that surplus votes are not ‘wasted’, but are available to help other candidates to get elected.”<\/p>\n
With 13,600 votes to retain and 13,010 votes to remove, a small majority voted to retain the Kirikiriroa M\u0101ori Ward, but this was also likely to be affected by the Saturday votes.<\/p>\n
Updated preliminary results are also expected Sunday.<\/p>\n