2020 election deemed a success, despite “disappointing outcome for gender equality"

Tuesday 11 May 2021

Numerous recommendations have been made for future elections, following the publication of a review of Guernsey’s first Island-wide General Election.

The States Assembly and Constitution Committee has revealed the Registrar-General’s report into our historic 2020 election, which will be debated in the June States debate.

Much has been made recently about the individual spend on election campaigns, with a decision made to not reveal it.

However, future elections could be beholden to new laws if suggestions to amend legislation are agreed to.

Pictured: The States are being asked to review the reform laws and relevant legislation ‘underpinning General Elections’.

The 2020 Island Wide Election was scrutinised and assessed in two reports; the CPA BIMR Election Expert Mission, published last year, and the aforementioned General of Electors report.

“The introduction of a new electoral system and its practical implementation was always expected to raise matters that would need to be reviewed,” said Sacc President Deputy Carl Meerveld.

“Both reports put forward constructive recommendations to assist the committee in preparing for the next General Election and have helped to assist in identifying key areas for review by the committee."

Pictured: The Expert Mission report included a breakdown of voter turnout.

Guernsey’s next General Election is set to take place in June 2025. SACC will now advise the States using feedback from the two reports.

It will be asking the States to agree to investigate the creation of an independent body for future elections and introduce a system for official complaints.

Additionally, it has been suggested that a feasibility study be undertaken to understand how viable ‘i-voting’ could be in future elections.

Pictured: “We will [now] be engaging with the public, States’ Members, organisations and civil society groups,” said Deputy Meerveld.

The Expert Mission report raised serious concerns about the participation of women in the election. 

“Of the 119 candidates in this election, only 28 were women. Just eight of them were elected, among the total of 38 Deputies representing Guernsey, amounting to 21%,” the report states.

“This figure falls short of the minimum advocacy goal of 30% of women in parliament espoused in the Beijing Platform for Action. This is a disappointing outcome from the perspective of gender equality,” it continues.

The document goes on to highlight how the lack of any equality law allows for cultural discrimination against women “which has yet to be eradicated”.

Pictured: Following a report suggestion Sacc’s policy letter pushes for work eliminating discrimination against women.

The concluding sentiment is that 2020’s General Election was a “successful democratic exercise” but needs fine-tuning. 

You can provide feedback to the recommendations and the policy letter by emailing ‘assemblycom@gov.gg’.

You can read the reports in full HERE.