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STATES OF JERSEY
DRAFT ELECTIONS (ELECTORAL REGISTERS) (JERSEY) AMENDMENT LAW 202- (P.27/2025) : COMMENTS
Presented to the States on 6th May 2025 by the Comité des Connétable s
STATES GREFFE
2025 P.27 Com.
COMMENTS
The Comité des Connétable s has prepared these comments on the following matters which the draft Law proposes should be amended:
The Comité des Connétable s supports the proposal to introduce automatic voter registration to create electoral registers. In supporting this change, which is enabled by amendments in this proposition, the Comité wishes to draw the attention of the States Assembly to the following:
- Electoral Register updates:
The Electoral Registers are rolling' registers, that is to say that they are updated on a daily basis as a person's eligibility criteria changes. The Report to the proposition, at paragraph 6, suggests that information gathered in the autumn each year is not updated prior to an election 6 or 8 months later. This is incorrect as all changes of name and address are entered promptly to ensure the Register is accurate and continually updated. Changes are also made based on information notified, for example of those who have left the island or are deceased. The Electoral Register is used for voting at Parish Assemblies, and in Parish elections as well as a public election.
- Admin errors:
The provisions in the law relating to a name omitted from the Electoral Register "as a result of administrative error" remain unchanged (Article 32(3) in relation to at a polling station and Article 46B in relation pre-poll or postal votes). A person who appears at the polling station on the day of the election but is not on the Register (paragraph 10 of the report), would need to provide supporting documentation that their name was held by the Chief Minister or they had applied under the new Article 6A.
- Turnout:
Whilst the amendments will ensure that more persons are registered as electors, including those who may have previously made a conscious decision not to register, the Comité endorses the PPC comment in paragraph 8 that there is a real risk the turnout figure will drop unless more choose to cast their vote.
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