Democracy Week

Democracy Week takes place each September and is a chance for Islanders to learn about and get involved with Jersey's political system.

The aim is to support everyone in understanding and feeling empowered and confident to make their voice heard at every stage of the electoral cycle. Democracy Week coincides with the anniversary of the Corn Riots.

The first Democracy Week took place in 2020 with a broad range of events and activities for Islanders of all ages. This included spray painting a bus with students' ideas about how public money should be spent.

Jersey's first People's Debate

In September 2024, 39 Islanders took part in Jersey's first People's Debate - an opportunity for Islanders to experience debating and voting in the States Chamber. The event was designed to provide people who may be considering standing for election with the chance to 'have a go'. It also attracted a lot of public interest, with thousands tuning in to watch the debate online and a packed public gallery.

Events over the past five years have included:

A range of school-based activities led by States Members including informative workshops to primary school aged students and championing 'Democracy Days'
'Design a States Chamber for the Future' competition for Primary School students, with a day-trip to visit Westminster for the winner
'My Island' art competition with all entries displayed in the Royal Square
Free tours of the States Chamber and Royal Court with Blue Badge Guides
Pop-up stands in the town centre to facilitate Islanders speaking directly with their elected representatives and opportunities to learn more about Jersey's political system
Public events, such as 'An Introduction to Jersey Politics', which provided a 30-minute introduction for anyone wishing to learn about how politics works in Jersey
Democracy-themed guided walks around St Helier with a Blue Badge Guide
Flagship videos for social media, created to demystify important topics such as voting and to shed light on why politics matters

"It's been fantastic to see Democracy Week grow again and particularly to see schools and other community groups embrace the week and run their own events in addition to those offered by the States Assembly. We always set out to ensure that the Democracy Week programme includes something for all Islanders, with a particular focus on reaching people who have not engaged with Jersey's democratic system before. We look forward to seeing the ongoing impact of these initiatives throughout the political cycle and when it comes to the 2026 election."
Deputy Carina Alves, Chair of the Privileges and Procedures Sub-Committee for Political Awareness and Education