WOULD-BE Senators will be required to demonstrate support from all parts of the Island if a change to electoral legislation is supported by the States Assembly.
Ahead of next month’s debate around the details of a new law covering the return of the Islandwide role at next June’s election, a backbench politician wants to make it a requirement that seconders for any candidate are drawn from all nine electoral districts.
An amendment from Deputy Hilary Jeune spells out the need for 14 seconders for each candidate: one from each of the nine districts, plus an extra seconder for the district covering two parishes – Grouville and St Martin – and two extra from each of the three-parish districts (St Mary, St Ouen and St Peter, plus St John, St Lawrence and Trinity).
In the accompanying report, she stated that: “A candidate who wants to speak for Jersey should be able to demonstrate they’ve engaged with Islanders from a mix of communities, geography and backgrounds, and, not just their own immediate area or network.”
Deputy Jeune said the move would reinforce the Islandwide mandate and promote genuine engagement across district boundaries, as well as strengthening public trust and encouraging prepared, committed candidates.
If adopted, the amendment would mean a different procedure for Senatorial candidates than for Deputies, with the latter role requiring nine seconders from the district in question.
The new law, proposed by the Privileges and Procedures Committee, and amendments lodged by States Members are set to be debated during the next sitting of the Assembly, which will start on Monday 8 September.
