Proxy voting for parents

Friday 18 October 2019

Deputies who become parents will be allowed to delegate a colleague to vote on their behalf in the future.

The States voted to approve proxy voting for six months after childbirth or adoption by 22 votes to 16.

The States Assembly & Constitution Committee brought the proposals to the Assembly in order to remove obstacles to people standing for Deputy and help the island lead the way with forward-thinking legislation. 

Many Deputies agreed that the introduction of proxy voting for parents achieved these aims, however there were significant objections and half a day of debate. 

The recorded vote on the proposition and policy letter from the States’ Assembly & Constitution Committee, “Proxy Voting for Parental Absence" is available to view below and online: https://t.co/4xRrJmIb8m pic.twitter.com/I6fMFhpsMB

— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) 17 October 2019

One of the common themes was that the proposal did not apply to Deputies in other situations that prevented them from being in the States Chamber - such as illness or caring for an ill relative. 

Deputies including Carl Meerveld and Mark Dorey argued that the Assembly was a debating chamber for a reason, and proxy voting would stop States members from changing their vote based on what they had heard in debate.

Sacc Vice-President Jennifer Merrett replied to that point, saying that a Deputy could contact their proxy any time up until the vote, by text or any other method of instant communication. 

Pictured: Having given birth to twins and been sidelined by serious illness during this States term, Deputy Victoria Oliver was able to offer insight into why a proxy for illness would be less advisable than for parenthood. 

Deputy Victoria Oliver was hospitalised earlier this term after contracting a rare disease, Addison's, which sidelined her from States meetings for several months. 

While some in the chamber believed Deputies unable to attend a meeting because of illness should be able to have a proxy, she warned against this being the case.

"There is no way I could have made a sane decision, which is why I would commend Sacc for not including it in this amendment."

The next step for proxy voting is for the legislation to be drawn up by the law officers.