THE age-old problem of States Members being elected unopposed could finally be ended at this summer’s election thanks to a little-known proposition passed two years ago.
Islanders in districts where there are the same number of candidates as seats can cast a ‘none of the above’ vote – and if ‘none of the above’ wins another election will be held.
And in an effort to overcome historic low voter turnouts, Islanders who missed Tuesday’s deadline to sign up to the main electoral register are being encouraged to sign up to the supplementary register by noon on 15 June, which will allow them to cast their ballot in person on 22 June.
Candidates began to hand in their forms to the Jersey Electoral Authority yesterday as nominations for Deputies and Constables opened. The deadline is 5pm on Friday.
In previous elections, the majority of Constables and some Deputies were elected unopposed as no alternative candidates came forward. This has led to criticism of the Island’s democratic system, including in 2018 from election observers from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
The ‘none of the above’ option was one of the changes voted for by States Members as part of wide-ranging reforms of the electoral system.
States Assembly head of digital and public engagement Jenny O’Brien said: ‘When it comes to choosing your candidates, for the first time in Jersey’s history, constituencies with the same number or fewer candidates than seats will also have the option to vote none of the above. This means that no candidate will be appointed as a States Member unopposed, which further strengthens Jersey’s democratic system.
‘We know there is no apathy about Island issues and we urge all residents to express their views by voting for the people they want to represent them in the States Assembly for the next four years.’
A proposal from Constable Karen Shenton-Stone, who is running for re-election in St Martin, resulted in the Privileges and Procedures Committee adopting the changes in their 2021 proposition on electoral reform.
‘It is very important for me, for democracy,’ Mrs Shenton-Stone said. ‘It provides voters with the final say over who gets elected and whether they approve of their candidacy, thereby ensuring that everyone in Jersey has at least some sort of choice on election day.’
It would also ensure that those running unopposed engaged with the electorate, she said, as well as encouraging voters to give more consideration to who they want to represent them and giving further insight into voter dissatisfaction in uncontested constituencies.
There are still around a quarter of sitting Members whose political futures remain in doubt having not yet formally declared their intentions.
According to the PPC proposition, the ‘primary function’ of the NOTA option is to ‘ensure that there are no longer uncontested elections, but it will also allow voters to express their opinion without having to ‘spoil’ their vote’.
If ‘none of the above’ tops the poll – ‘however unlikely that may be’ – then a further election will take place until a candidate is chosen. There are no restrictions on a candidate beaten by NOTA standing again. If ‘none of the above’ comes second or third in an election for example, ‘then those votes will be regarded more in line with an abstention or statement of position and the remaining candidates will be elected’, even if some poll less than the NOTA option.
Following several candidate announcements, only one parish currently has a contested Constable election – Grouville – meaning that Islanders in the other 11 parishes may be able to exercise their new ‘none of the above’ rights. While Grouville parishioners will have a choice between Mark Labey and Sarah Howard for Constable, they are also part of a newly formed district comprising Grouville and St Martin which could be the only place where there are the same number of Deputy candidates to seats. Deputy Carolyn Labey, independent Piers Sangan and Progress Party founder Deputy Steve Luce are standing for the district’s three seats.
Ms O’Brien said it was ‘really exciting to hear the buzz on the street’ around the June election.
‘Our thanks to the tens of thousands of Islanders who registered before 10 May, giving them the option to vote by post, pre-poll, or on Election Day. However it’s not too late to register. Islanders have until 12pm on 15 June to join the supplementary register, which allows them to vote in person at their polling station on 22 June,’ she added.
Islanders who have signed up to the main electoral register can also vote by post for the first time in Jersey’s history. Registration for postal voting closes on 1 June. Two parties are due to launch their manifestos next week, with Reform Jersey holding a press conference on Monday at 7.30pm at the Town Hall and the Jersey Alliance launching its official election pledges the following morning.
