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The Hare quota (also known as the simple quota) is a formula used under some forms of the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system and the largest remainder method of party-list proportional representation. In these voting systems the quota is the minimum number of votes required for a party or candidate to capture a seat.

The Hare quota is the simplest quota that can be used in elections held under the STV system. In an STV election a candidate who reaches the quota is elected while any votes a candidate receives above the quota are transfered to another candidate. The Hare quota was devised by Thomas Hare, one of earliest pioneers of STV. In 1868 Henry Richmond Droop (1831-1884) invented the Droop quota as a replacement for the Hare quota and today, because it is considered to be technically inferior, the Hare quota has largely fallen into disuse.

Formula

The Hare quota may be given as:

:

\frac{\mbox{total} \; \mbox{votes}}{\mbox{total} \; \mbox{seats}}.

Total votes = the total valid poll; thats is, the number of valid (unspoilt) votes cast in an election.
Total seats = the total number of seats to be filled in the election.

An example of use in STV

To see how the Hare quota works in an STV election imagine an election in which there are 2 seats to be filled and 3 candidates: Andrea, Carter and Brad. There are 102 voters. Two of these voters spoil there ballot papers but the remaining 100 vote as follows:

There are 102 voters but two have spoiled their papers so the total valid poll is 100. There are 2 seats. The Hare quota is therefore:

:

\frac{100}{2} = 50

To begin the count the first preferences cast for each candidate are tallied and are as follows:

Andrea: 60
Carter: 19
Brad: 12

Andrea has more than 50 votes. She therefore has reached the quota and is declared elected. She has 10 votes more than the quota so these votes are transfered to Carter. The tallies therefore become:

Carter: 29
Brad: 12

No candidate now has a quota so Brad, as the candidate with the fewest votes, is excluded. Carter is now the only remaining candidate. We might continue the count by 'transfering' Brad's votes to Carter. If this is done Carter will reach a quota. However Carter is the only candidate who can win so this step is not necessary.

Result: The elected candidates are Andrea and Carter.

Comparison with the Droop quota

The Droop quota is today the most popular quota for STV elections. The Droop quota is smaller than the Hare quota, and was first suggested because it is the smallest quota that, like the Hare quota, ensures that the number of candidates who reach the quota will not be greater than the number of seats to be filled.

In an STV election in which there is only one seat to be filled (in other words an Instant Run-off Voting election) it is possible to use the Hare quota, which will simply be equal to 100% of votes cast. However it is simpler to use the Droop quota, which will be equal to an absolute majority of votes cast, and both quotas will achieve the same result. When this fact was observed some believed that the Droop quota should be extended to STV elections with multiple winners as well, and replace the Hare quota.

The Hare quota is generally kinder to small parties than the Droop quota, and disadvantages larger parties. Today many favour the Droop quota for use in STV elections because it seems to ensure majority rule. This is because in an election held under the Hare quota it is sometimes possible for a group of candidates solidly supported by a majority of voters to receive only a minority of seats. Such an outcome is far rarer in an election held under the Droop quota.

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