A system of electing MPs where voters rank candidates in order of preference by marking 1, 2, 3 and so on. Candidates are declared elected if they receive a majority of first preference votes. If no candidate reaches a majority, the lowest ranking candidates are eliminated and their second preference votes redistributed to the remaining candidates. The process continues until one candidate is clearly ahead of the others. This method is used in countries such as Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
The Presiding Officer asks members who want to vote for a proposal to move to the right side of their chair and those who wish to vote against to the left. The names of those who have voted are recorded and the result is announced. The Presiding Officer does not take formal notice of abstentions, although a list of division lists is appended to the Journals and Debates following a vote.
An electronic bell rung to summon members at the beginning of a sitting, for a vote or to establish quorum in the House. It is also known as a division bell.
A period of 30 minutes Monday to Thursday prior to the daily adjournment during which members can raise matters with the government that they believe have not been dealt with satisfactorily during the oral question period or, in the case of written questions, have not been responded to within 45 days. A minister or parliamentary secretary will respond to these questions.