The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7227 p825
7 December 2002

Society summary

Council consults on ending elections by STV

The Council of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has started the process of changing the Society's Byelaws so as to discontinue the use of the single transferable vote system in the elections of Council members and auditors.

The Council decided at its October meeting (PJ, 12 October, p545) that it would seek to revert to the so-called "first past the post" system, in which voters have one vote for each vacant place. The Council made its decision against the recommendation of its modernisation steering group, which favoured retaining the STV system for elections to the future Council.

At its meeting this month, the Council approved the wording of an Official Notice (p831) giving the required 60 days' notice of its intention to seek Privy Council approval for the necessary Byelaw change. If the Privy Council approves the amendment without delay, the 2003 Council election will be held under the revised system, ending more than a quarter of a century of elections by the STV system.