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Other BusinessYou are in: Jersey > Inside the States > Other Business > Would reform improve turnout?  Voting at St Sampson's Polling Station Would reform improve turnout?By Ryan Morrison With turnout in the Guernsey election at 56% we ask “would reform in Jersey improve election turnout?” Although nobody likes to admit it there are a lot of similarities between Jersey and Guernsey. One is that our parliaments are both called the States. Another is that reform has been a hot topic in both places and a third is that both islands now let 16 and 17 year olds vote.  Until the General Election of 2000 the make-up of the States of Guernsey was very similar to that of Jersey. There were 33 Deputies elected every three years, 12 Conseillers elected island wide for six years with half elected every three and 10 Douzaine representatives (parish). The States of Guernsey is now made up of 45 People's Deputies elected every four years. Turnout has been high in Guernsey for the past two elections with turnout in 2004 at around 60% and at 56% for the 2008 election. In contrast, turnout in Jersey has been declining with a turnout of 34% for the 2005 Deputies and 39% in the Senatorials. The turnout in the 2002 Senatorial elections in Jersey was higher at 45.2%.
So why is Guernsey's turnout so much higher than Jersey's? Is it because Guernsey people are more politically minded? Is it because of the electoral system? Or is there another reason? Politicians in Jersey are hoping that the island will see an increase in turnout when Jersey goes to the polls at the end of this year. Constable Derek Grey, head of Jersey's Privileges and Procedures Committee, says current political issues may help increase the number of people voting here. He told BBC Radio Jersey's breakfast programme: "We may have an issue this year because GST has itself raised the political level and made a lot of people interested. "We've had that large petition with 19 thousand people signing it. If those people went into the polling booth then we would have an excellent turnout."  In the Guernsey General Election 87 candidates were seeking election. 17 of the previous States members stood down, meaning at least a third of the house will now consist of new members. The person tipped to be the next Chief Minister in Guernsey lost her seat. Wendy Morgan finished only in 9th position in her St Peter Port North district and she was one of only two sitting deputies to lose their seats. The other was Deputy Brian de Jersey in the Vale, where 26-year-old newspaper roundsman Matt Fallaize topped the poll. But not everyone in Guernsey is happy with the way the island elects its politicians.  The results of a poll conducted for the Guernsey Evening Post suggested that 61% of those responding would support an island-wide vote for all 45 deputies and 59% would support an island-wide vote for just the Chief Minister. Over to youSo what can be done to help increase the turnout in Jersey? Would you like to see Jersey’s States reformed along the same lines as Guernsey – with a set number of members elected to the same office, for the same length of time and on the same day? Or do you think our current system of different types of member works better for the island? Did you vote in the last election? If not why not? Will you be voting in this years election? last updated: 24/04/2008 at 12:36 Have Your SayTom Jefferson Secret Ballot Carl bruce George Carl Simon Phil Marcus Dee Fiant SEE ALSOYou are in: Jersey > Inside the States > Other Business > Would reform improve turnout?  PoliticsPolitics is talked about and covered across our output. Look back at the 2005 Senatorial and Deputy Elections. |
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