Draft Elections (Senators) (Jersey) Amendment Law 202- (P.56/2025): second amendment (P.56/2025 Amd.(2)) – comments
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STATES OF JERSEY
DRAFT ELECTIONS (SENATORS) (JERSEY) AMENDMENT LAW 202- (P.56/2025): SECOND AMENDMENT (P.56/2025 AMD.(2)) – COMMENTS
Presented to the States on 4th September 2025 by the Privileges and Procedures Committee
STATES GREFFE
2025 P.56 Amd.(2).Com.
COMMENTS
This amendment seeks to change the cut off for when a by-election would need to be called should there be a casual vacancy for Senator or Deputy and proposes that the time period be extended from 6 months to 9 months before an ordinary election.
The Committee considers this to be a pragmatic proposal. An election places additional burdens on all those involved behind the scenes, including the Parishes, Judicial Greffe and States Greffe staff, not to mention the cost to the public.
As the Comité have noted, the existing provisions of the Elections legislation and the need for the Assembly to prorogue before the nomination period, could currently result in a very short time period for a Member, newly elected following a by election, to be able to participate in the work of the Assembly. It is likely that, due to the limited time available and the need for a truncated induction period, anyone brand new to the Assembly would be disadvantaged, and even a returning Member would struggle to have any meaningful impact on the deliberations of the Assembly. The Committee supports this amendment.
The Committee was unable to meet to discuss these comments in person and therefore these represent the majority, rather than a consensus view.
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P.56/2025 Amd.(2).Com.