peach  form

• Firstly the number of MSPs elected for the constituencies in each region are added up.

• Then the second votes in each region are added up.

• MSPs are then added from the party lists one at a time in the order of the list until the number of MSPs for each party in each region approximately represents the proportions of second votes for that party in that region.

The table above shows how the system works. The first row shows the total number of Regional votes gained by each party and the number of constituencies won by each. Parties 1 2 and 3 all had about equal votes and the additional regional seats are added to give each four MSPs each. Party 4 won only half the number of Regional votes and only has a total of two extra regional MSPs of the other three parties. Note that voters in this system do not have to vote for the same party as the candidate they vote for in the constituency election. You could vote both Labour and Tory at the same time!