FACTSHEET CALCULATING A MAJORITY FOR THE CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU SPECIAL ELECTIONS
For the City and County Honolulu Special Elections, a candidate must receive a majority of votes cast for the office to be elected. If no candidate receives a majority, a second special election is held in conjunction with the general election between the two candidates receiving the most votes. The candidate with the highest number of votes at this second special election is deemed elected.
To calculate a majority, add the votes for all of the candidates in the respective contest, divide that sum by two, and add one. NOTE: “Blank votes” and “over votes” are not included in the calculation of a majority for the City Special Elections.
EXAMPLE:
| Results of the First Special Election. | Candidate A..............................300 Candidate B..............................100 Candidate C..............................150 |
|---|---|
| Blank Votes...............................101 Over Votes................................159 | |
| Total (sum)................................810 |
| Step 1: | Add the votes cast for each candidate. | Candidate A..............................300 Candidate B..............................100 Candidate C..............................150 Total (sum)................................550 |
| Step 2: | Divide the sum of the votes cast by two. | 550 ÷ 2 = 275 |
| Step 3: | Add one to the result from Step 2. | 275 + 1 = 276 votes required |
| RESULT: | Candidate A wins the first Special Election by a majority of votes cast. The second Special Election will not be held. | |
CAUTION: The percentage figures appearing in the Teamwork printout include "blank votes" and "over votes" which are not included in the calculation of a majority for the City Special Elections.
This Fact Sheet is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used as an authority on the Charter provisions of the City & County of Honolulu. Consult the City Charter and/or the City Clerk for more detailed and accurate requirements.
Office of Elections - FSBO138C 07/16/07