Explanatory referendum video released

Tuesday 14 August 2018

A video that aims to explain exactly how the Island Wide Voting Referendum is going to work has been released by the States.

Narrated by children, the video sets out an example of how the voting system will work. Due to be held on 10 October, voters will have five options to choose from and will be asked to rank one or more of those options on the ballot paper.

The video can be watched here.

States Assembly & Constitution Committee President, Deputy Peter Roffey, said: “Rather than voters only being able to vote for one option, they will be able to rank the options on the ballot paper in their order of preference in order to ensure that the winning option has broad support.

"Voters can vote for as many or as few of the options as they like – they don’t have to use all of their five votes.”

The video explains how to vote using the example of a class of schoolchildren deciding what colour to paint their classroom door. The children have five colours to choose from: grey, green, red, blue and yellow. The children then rank the colour they want their door painted in order of their favourite colours. The video also provides a brief overview of how the votes will be counted and some ‘top tips’ for the viewer on voting in the referendum. 

SACC Vice President Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez took the lead in producing the video and said: “Given this is a different way of voting from what people will be used to, the Committee felt it was important to make a video explaining how to vote. The video was produced locally and voiced by local children, and explains in simple terms how people can vote.”

Staff supporting the referendum will also be out and about in the lead up to the referendum, initially showing the video at the Youth Commission stands at the West and North shows, and encouraging Islanders who are not already on the Electoral Roll to register to vote. 

Electoral Roll staff will also be in Market Square each Friday during August so people can sign up to the Electoral Roll on their lunchbreak. From early September, those wishing to register to vote will be able to do so in the Guille Allès Library and online at www.gov.gg/elections.

Impartial guidance explaining each of the five options on the ballot paper and information on how to vote will be delivered to every household in late August 2018.

View the video online at the States of Guernsey YouTube channel, its Facebook and Twitter accounts and on www.gov.gg/referendum. From early September, it will also be shown in various States’ buildings and the Guille AllèsLibrary.