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People might be able to stand for election at 18, spending limits could be implemented for 'political parties' and a better postal vote system are just some of the changes that could be made ahead of the next election, in just over a year.
The States body organising the first Island-wide General Election, set to take place in June 2020, has released its first set of plans in the form of a policy letter to the States.
Pictured: The States chamber where our elected officials make decisions.
The States' Assembly & Constitution Committee's policy letter covers the changes needed to the Law governing elections which will enable the 2020 General Election to be held on an Island-wide basis, and also includes some minor changes to how Guernsey elections work.
Deputy Neil Inder, SACC President (pictured above), said: "The island is currently split into seven Electoral Districts for General Elections. We need to change the Law so that there will be one island-wide district to elect 38 Deputies. Given that the Law needs to receive Royal Assent, it is important that this policy letter is debated in April so that the necessary changes to legislation can be made as soon as possible.
"We are proposing that the General Election is held on Wednesday 17 June, 2020 and that opportunities for advance voting are expanded and improved in order to ease potential congestion on Election Day."
In drawing up the policy letter, the Committee has put forward recommendations that it believes will improve the processes surrounding General Elections, including:
people who don't want their address on a public Electoral Roll for reasons of safety will be able to apply to have their name omitted from the Roll available for public inspection; and
reducing the age of eligibility to stand as a Deputy from 20 to 18; and
introducing rules on donations and loans to candidates and parties;
requiring political parties who want to promote candidates at a General Election to formally register; and
putting in place spending limits for political parties in the Election period; and
advance polling stations being created to enable people to vote in the week before the General Election;
improving the rules on postal voting to enable people to also return such votes to the polling station on Election Day.
Pictured: Guernsey's first full island wide election could be held on 17 June 2020.
Deputy Inder said: “This policy letter represents the very first stage of the process, in setting the legal framework for the General Election. Our next policy letter will focus on important matters such as the distribution of manifestos, the funds available to candidates, what support the States will provide to candidates, what information the States will provide to the voters etc.
"I have always said that this is the people’s policy and, with this in mind, we’d really like to hear from the public as to how they want to receive information about candidates in the lead up to the election and therefore would encourage people to e-mail or write to the Committee with their thoughts.”
The Committee is currently considering proposing funding:
the production of a combined candidates’ manifesto booklet delivered to all households on the Electoral Roll; and
information uploaded onto a website (e.g. contact details, manifestos etc.); and brief candidate videos uploaded onto a website.
Further information about the above can be found in the ‘Candidate Expenditure and Grants’ section of the policy letter. It is intended that would be provided instead of the States providing grants to each candidate.
If you would like to provide your thoughts to the Committee regarding the above, or any of the other proposals, you can e-mail via assemblycom@gov.gg.
The Committee is starting work on its second policy letter immediately and will be looking to consult and seek feedback from the public as it develops its proposals.
To read the full policy letter, click here.
Pictured top: Neil Inder, President of SACC.
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