Launched by the group Women in Politics to mark International Women’s Day on Sunday, the anonymous survey asks respondents to identify the three most important issues to them right now.
They are also asked how their top issue affects their life, if they vote and why or why not.
The results of the survey will be used by the group – which aims to increase female participation in politics, including standing for election, supporting others and making their voice heard on important issues – to shape its focus and activities going forward. They also plan to make the general findings public and encourage Jersey’s politicians to take them into account as they debate future decisions and formulate policy.
Earlier this year the latest Better Life Index produced by Statistics Jersey showed that the Island ranked bottom out of 41 OECD countries for civic engagement. The category takes into account public engagement with government in areas such as voter turnout, and Jersey scored zero out of ten. Toni Roberts, joint chairwoman of Women in Politics, said such figures were a reminder of the great need that existed in Jersey to encourage more people to engage with politics and exercise their democratic rights.
She added that filling in the survey, even if people had not voted in the past or felt they might noy have a strong opinion, was the ideal place to start.
‘Ultimately we want more people in Jersey to exercise their right to vote, not to allow someone else to determine their future,’ she said. ‘When we vote we are all equal, and by choosing our candidates we can be truly empowered to change our future. With two years to go until the next election, we are keen to understand the reasons why so many people do not vote in Jersey and what the most important issues are to Islanders, particularly women, right now.
‘We will of course make our findings public and we hope that our local politicians will also take note of them.’
For more information and for a link to the survey search for Women in Politics – Jersey on Facebook.
