The list of candidates contesting the Westminster general election in the West Belfast constituency has been finalised. The seat is currently held by Gerry Adams, the president of Sinn F in. The election takes place on June 7th 2001.
Voting is by the single transferable vote system of proportional representation.
In the Westminster election, a voter expresses a single choice for one candidate in a single-seat constituency and the candidate with the greatest number of votes is deemed elected. Most electoral areas have five or six seats. To be deemed elected, candidates have to reach a quota which is calculated from the total number of votes cast, divided by the number of seats plus one. Extra votes from surpluses or the second preferences from eliminated candidates are redistributed according to voters' choice. It can often take two or more days of counting, redistributing and recounting before all the candidates are elected.