Reform of the composition of the States Assembly (P.76/2023): amendment.

STATES OF JERSEY

REFORM OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE STATES ASSEMBLY (P.76/2023): AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 3rd November 2023

by Deputy L.J. Farnham of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter Earliest date for debate: 28th November 2023

STATES GREFFE

2023  P.76 Amd.

REFORM OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE STATES ASSEMBLY (P.76/2023): AMENDMENT

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1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (b) –

Substitute the words "that will determine the number of Deputies to form part of the" with the words "for a" and substitute sub-paragraph (iii) with the following –

"(iii)  there should be 9 Senators, reducing the number of Deputies in each

existing constituency by 1; and;"

 DEPUTY L.J. FARNHAM OF ST. MARY, ST. OUEN AND ST. PETER

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

1. to agree that the number of Deputies in the States Assembly should be reduced, and that the office of Senator, elected on an Island-wide basis, should be re-instated in time for the General Election in 2026;
2. to request the Privileges and Procedures Committee to develop proposals  for  a re-constituted  States  Assembly  in  2026  in accordance with the following principles –

1. there should be no increase in the total number of States Members from the current 49;
2. the  twelve   Connétable s  should  remain  as  voting Members in the Assembly; and
3. there should be 9 Senators, reducing the number ofDeputies in each existing constituency by 1; and

3. that all of the consequential amending legislation should be brought for  debate  by  the  Assembly  before  July  2025  to  ensure implementation for the 2026 elections.

REPORT

The effect of this amendment, if adopted, would be to establish a States Assembly of 49 members consisting of 9 Senators, elected by island wide mandate, 28 Deputies elected under the existing constituencies, and the 12 Parish Connétable s.

In the 2022 general election, the electorate had lost the right to elect members, to the States Assembly, by island wide mandate.

It is clear from public reaction, during, and post, the last election, that the majority of islanders wished to retain the Island wide mandate as represented in the office of Senator. This resulted in many islanders choosing not to vote leading to the poorest election turnout in recorded history. This is particularly poignant as the new electoral system was predicated upon the objective of increasing voter participation and turnout.

The office of Senator was the most democratic of all the elected offices in Jersey and offered the greatest level of voter equity and accountability, in that Senators are elected by, and answerable to, every voter (and every individual) in the Island.

The Senatorial elections provided Islanders with an opportunity to collectively discuss and consider key issues of interest to every person in Jersey, not just matters relevant to one Parish or District.

Importantly,  the  holders  of  Senatorial  office  were  therefore  well  placed  to  take unprejudiced and impartial views of issues affecting the whole Island, without being conflicted by Parish or constituency pressures providing an essential balance to the States Assembly.

The reinstatement of Senators, as proposed, and the removal of 1 Deputy from each district, would have virtually no impact on the greater voter equality when compared to our current electoral system. It would however give the electorate far greater voter choice and influence by increasing the number of representatives that each voter can elect by 8 members - 1 less Deputy but 9 new Senators, the loss of 1 vote being replaced with 9 new votes.

The Island wide mandate gives us all a shared, direct and equal influence over the make- up of the States Assembly and, albeit more indirectly, in the Government. I believe this is important and necessary for positive engagement in politics and for turnout  at elections, and it is my firm opinion that our democracy has been poorer in its absence.

The main Proposition, brought by Deputy Scott , whilst bringing greater flexibility, would, if approved, require significant work to be undertaken by PPC which would be challenging to complete in the absence of any consensus among members. In discussion with colleagues on this issue, a number stated they would prefer to know what they were voting for at this stage. To that end, this amendment provides a specific solution with ample time to achieve implementation.

Deputies constituencies under this Amendment:

Deputies constituencies/population/population per Deputy under this Amendment:

Deputies  Population  Population Constituency  Returned  Population  By District  Per Deputy

Deputies constituencies/population/population per Deputy under current system:

There are no additional financial and staffing implications.