Now we wait, for the referendum results

Wednesday 10 October 2018

The votes have been cast, so we now we just have to wait to find out what the result is from Guernsey's first referendum which could see island wide voting introduced.

Registered voters went to the polls in an historic ballot on Wednesday 10 October, 2018, to give their opinion on how the island's government is elected.

Those votes will be counted at St James on Thursday 11 October, with the results released in stages throughout the day.

Pictured: Votes were cast across the island in Guernsey's first referendum. 

All of the ballot boxes from the various polling stations were taken to the Greffe first, where they'll be held securely overnight. Then St James will be prepared for the count to begin at 09:30.

First, a reconciliation of votes will be carried out, meaning those counting will add up the number of votes cast in each parish and district before comparing that number against the records taken whilst votes were being cast. 

Spolit and blank papers will be counted and taken out then too. The Chief Counting Officer, Jurat Robillard, will announce the turn out then. 

For the referendum to be binding on the States, there needs to be a turnout of 40% or more. 

Registration to vote in the referendum, and applications for postal votes closed last week, with 31,685 names on the electoral roll when it was closed, meaning 12,746 voters had to have their say for it to be binding.

Once the votes have been reconciled the counting will begin, with the first round of votes expected to take until lunchtime at least. If there isn't a clear majority through counting everyone's first choice vote, then the count will move on to the second round and so on until a clear winner is established. 

Pictured: The five choices people could choose between in the referendum. Every registered voter could list up to five, ranking their choices from 1-5 in order of preference.

The question of island wide voting has never gone away, with many people believing the island would benefit with a new system of electing deputies.

Under a previous machinery of government, Guernsey had Conseillers, who were elected on an island wide basis and were seen as more senior States members. 

That system was scrapped and we now have 38 deputies elected on a district basis. The referendum gave us five options including methods of introducing island wide voting, partial island wide voting and the current parochial district system, along with a modified district system.

Pictured top: St James, where the referendum votes will be counted.