IN early 2017, the States agreed a proposal to make a number of changes to the Public Elections law to improve the voting process. This included a new right to allow election observers to examine all parts of the election process, including reviewing the electoral roll, and attending pre-poll voting as well as election day itself. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association sent a team of eight observers to the recent election and they have just issued their preliminary report.
While the observers were impressed by the dedication and professionalism of the States and parish staff who administered the election process, they have also given an honest and critical opinion on what they describe as the ‘overly complicated and cumbersome’ system.
In particular they drew attention to the election of Constables. Eleven out of twelve were elected unopposed. They also noted the enormous difference in the size of electoral districts. The Constable in St Mary represents 1,752 voters whereas the Constable of St Helier represents nearly twenty times as many electors, with over 33,000 on the electoral roll. The disparity in electoral representation challenges the Island’s obligations under the UN international Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Jersey prides itself on its international identity and has successfully invested significant resources in recent years in establishing and maintaining agreements with many countries across the financial services sector. Last year, the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry published its final report and identified the failings of what it described as the ‘Jersey Way’ in relation to the care of children. The Council of Ministers acted quickly on the Inquiry’s recommendations with more actions likely under the new government. Whilst outside the remit of the Care Inquiry, Frances Oldham’s report noted that the States should review its constitution as part of the actions to address some of the negative aspects of the Jersey Way.
The Clothier Report from 2000 proposed the removal of the Constables from the States. Since then there have been numerous proposals but very little progress in this area. This latest report is yet another call to action. There is a real opportunity for the new Constables to put forward a positive plan to offer to give up their automatic seats in the States Assembly and to re-invent themselves as community champions. This would both facilitate electoral reform and allow the Constables to concentrate on building social and voluntary networks within their own parishes.
