A SURVEY has been launched to seek Islanders’ views on Jersey’s petition process.
The Privileges and Procedures Committee has commissioned the review to ensure that the petition process “works well for all Islanders” and to identify areas for improvement, according to the States Assembly.
Both types of petitions are currently available in Jersey, the more popular online version, and its paper-form predecessor.
The survey will gather feedback about both forms.
In 2017, States Members agreed that e-petitions could be submitted to the Assembly. The PPC, which oversees the procedures of the States Assembly, brought proposals for the required law changes the following year.
It was agreed that e-petitions which receive 1,000 signatures or more would receive a response from the relevant minister, while those that surpass 5,000 signatures would be eligible for an in-committee debate in the Chamber, which has no time limit and no vote.
The anonymous survey, which is estimated to take a few minutes to complete, is available to all Islanders and can be accessed on the States Assembly website, and paper copies will be available from all parish halls.
St Martin Constable Karen Stone, Privileges and Procedures Committee chair, said the online petition system has “help[ed] shape the political discussion”.
“Petitions are a fantastic way of ensuring topics that are important to Islanders are put on the political agenda,” Constable Stone said.
“But it is timely that we seek the views of those who have engaged with the system, as well as those who have not, to consider how we might improve it for all Islanders going forward.”
The survey is open until 31 March. Feedback about the survey can also be provided by emailing statesgreffe@gov.je.
