How do votes become seats?

YORKSHIRE is a single constituency represented by six MEPs.

Each party submits a list of six candidates, although the voting system makes it unlikely any one party would secure more than three seats.

Voters put a cross against one list. The party winning the most votes secures the first seat. Every party then has its vote divided by the number of seats it has won plus one and they are ranked again.

The process is repeated until all six seats have been won. Seats won by parties are given to their candidates in the order they appear on their list.