Multi-member ward sees second election in the space of a few weeks

[afleitch]

After Baillieston councillor John Mason was elected to serve as MP for Glasgow East, he resigned his council seat forcing a by-election. Now Labour councillor and veteran Dougie Hay has sadly passed away. This will force a second election in Baillieston (SNP won Mason's seat) in the space of a few weeks.

Such are the quirks of STV

The last race was locally famous for the mysterious 'Who is Andy Muir?' flyer and Facebook campaign. It turned out Andy Muir was the Labour candidate who was embarrased failed to mention he was Labour and he was a candidate on his flyers. Needless to say, likely pressure from the Electoral Commission forced him to declare himself and his party affiliation on election literature after everyone else. So in effect he generated less exposure (and not many 60 something voters log onto Facebook)

[Filuwaúrdjan]

In the last Baillieston by-election, the SNP candidate won by about 200 votes (4%) in the final round. If it'd been fptp he'd have won by about 150 votes; both the SNP and Labour candidates polled over 40% in the first round.

[Хahar 🤔]

Why do STV constituencies use by-elections?

[minionofmidas]

Why do STV constituencies use by-elections?

Because the British love by-elections. And because, if you want to use countback, you need to tell the parties well beforehand as that affects the number of candidates they're going to nominate.