THE first ballot papers have been filled in for the 2026 election, with a steady flow of Islanders taking up the opportunity to vote ahead of polling day.
Voters from across the Island are entitled to vote at St Paul’s Centre in St Helier, with the pre-poll facility being open every weekday this week and again next Monday morning.
One of the first in line, Alison Coles, said she had hoped to emulate her son Tom’s achievement after he was first to hand in his nomination papers at the start of the election period on 20 April.
Although she wasn’t quite the first in line, Deputy Coles’ mother had completed her democratic duty within a few minutes, even if she was unable to vote for her son in his bid for re-election in St Helier South… due to living in St Lawrence.
“It was very easy and smooth – I don’t know why more people don’t come and vote here,” she said.
Father-and-son duo Philip and Harry Baker were also among the first to vote, saying that they had taken advantage of the 8.45am start in order not to interrupt the working day.
The first of the 92 candidates to vote was Kevin O’Connell, who is contesting St Helier North on behalf of Reform Jersey.
“I’ve been telling people about pre-poll voting while I’ve been canvassing, so I wanted to make sure it all worked,” he said. “The people working here were very helpful and I was in and out pretty quickly.”
Some voters had opted to vote early before the worst of the afternoon heat arrived, although a temperature of around 27°C at opening time was hardly cool.
Tony Miziolek and Caroline Boleat said they would be away on election day itself – 7 June – and so were making sure to have voted in advance.
One woman didn’t want to give her name, but gave a firm response when asked whether she had voted. “Too right I have – we women waited long enough to get the vote while men were running the place,” she said.
Pre-poll voting is available between 8.45am and 5pm today, tomorrow and Friday, and also on Monday 1 June between 8.45am and 12noon. Voters are asked to bring photo identification in order to get the quickest possible check-in, although officials will also check identity via parish records for those without ID.
