Second island wide election could be held on 18 June 2025

Friday 24 March 2023

The States Assembly & Constitution Committee (SACC) will propose to deputies that the second island wide election should be held on 18 June 2025.

The current political term is scheduled to end on June 30 of that year.

Committee officials said this would allow sufficient time for a vote recount should one be triggered.

They also advised SACC members that the proposed date should not clash with major Channel Islands sporting events or a possible general election in the UK. 

If agreed by the Assembly, venues to host hustings events and the count can be booked in good time.

Pictured: It’s hoped that Beau Sejour can again be used for election events and the count.

SACC members, including Deputies Simon Fairclough and John Gollop, noted that the mid-summer date would provide ample daylight for candidates to canvas and also for people going to the polls.

A fresh website for the election will also launch imminently, which will initially be populated with a general awareness campaign on what the role of a local politician entails. 

The Committee has been working to improve the access to information and details of political life to prospective candidates, well in advance of elections.

One idea floated was to get former deputies on board to help explain the role through meetings, provided they are not planning to personally contest the election in 2025.

But the SACC President, Deputy Carl Meerveld, feared that if those selected were too old they may not have a firm grasp on the present structure of government or sufficient social media experience, which now forms a part of the job.

Deputy Fairclough also raised concerns with that approach, since people often "flip flop" on whether to stand for election, which could create bias allegations against the States. He added that the public may simply see an individual and criticise their past performance as a States member.

SACC agreed to bring in the States' Head of Communications and election managers to draw up an expected roll-out to the election at a later date.