What is preferential voting and how will it shape the UCP leadership contest?
One political scientist says the United Conservative Party's leadership vote result on Thursday night will come down to how many voting rounds need to occur under the preferential voting system.
What is preferential voting, and how does it work? Here's what you need to know.
Unlike provincial elections, which rely on a first-past-the-post system, the UCP bylaws call for leadership contests to use preferential ballots.
"In order to be elected leader, a candidate must receive over 50 per cent of the valid votes cast," the bylaws state.
Each ballot is worth one vote, but electors select the candidates in their order of preference, with the first choice being their most preferred candidate. Members can rank as many or as few candidates as they wish.
When tabulating results, should a leadership contestant receive more than 50 per cent of the total number of first-preference ballots cast, that candidate is the winner.
If no single candidate garners the required threshold, the contestant with the least amount of first-preference votes is dropped. Ballots for the dropped candidate are then redistributed to whomever those voters selected as their second choice.
That process is repeated until a candidate can meet the more than 50 per cent threshold.
Since seven candidates are vying for the position of UCP's top job, voters could select their order of preference for seven contestants, and there will be a maximum of seven rounds of voting, if necessary.
The UCP governance manual states the result of each round of voting should be publicly announced once completed.
In the unlikely event there is ever a tie, the UCP leadership election committee chair's ballot would be counted to determine which contestant is eliminated.
In Alberta, provincial elections use first-past-the-post, where electors select one candidate on a ballot, with the contestant who earns the highest number of votes being elected.
Under that system, the candidate with the most votes can win, which can often mean they are elected without an absolute majority.
'NEVER RULE OUT UNPREDICTABLE THINGS'
Political scientist Chaldeans Mensah described the preferential ballot system as a "tricky system" that can create surprises depending on which candidate is dropped after the first ballot.
"Never rule out unpredictable things to happen with the preferential ballot system," Mensah said. "Everything depends on who gets dropped out of the count in the first ballot."
For this contest, Mensah, with MacEwan University, believes it will ultimately result in a two-horse race between Danielle Smith and Travis Toews.
"If she doesn't do so well on the first ballot, then that sets up the potential for someone to come from behind," he added.
"If it's a short contest, maybe one, two, three rounds, I think Danielle Smith will likely win it."
Five other people are running to lead the UCP and become premier-designate of Alberta: Brian Jean, Rebecca Schulz, Rajan Sawhney, Leela Aheer, and Todd Loewen.
The new leader is expected to be announced after 7:30 p.m.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Diego Romero
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.