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Public Elections: extension of pre-poll voting arrangements.

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STATES OF JERSEY

PUBLIC ELECTIONS: EXTENSION OF PRE-POLL VOTING ARRANGEMENTS

Lodged au Greffe on 22nd March 2011 by Deputy J.M. Maçon of St. Saviour

STATES GREFFE

2011   Price code: A  P.42

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to  refer  to  their  Act  dated  17th  March  2011  in  which  they  approved amendments to the Public Elections (Jersey) Law 2002 and –

  1. to agree  that  the  new  arrangements  that  will  permit  the  Judicial Greffier to take such measures as he or she considers appropriate for taking pre-poll votes from electors who are ill, disabled or illiterate should  be  extended  to allow  the  Judicial  Greffier  to  take  similar measures in relation to any spouse or carer of such persons provided that the spouse or carer is at the same premises as the elector who is ill,  disabled  or  illiterate  and  that  the  voting  arrangements  can  be undertaken at the same time; and
  2. to request  the  Privileges  and  Procedures  Committee  to take  the necessary steps to bring forward for approval an amendment to the Public Elections (Jersey) Law 2002 to give effect to the decision.

DEPUTY J.M. MAÇON OF ST. SAVIOUR

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REPORT

I bring this amendment as I gave an undertaking that I would, during the debate on 17th March, when debating PPC's amendments to the Public Elections (Jersey) Law 2002.

I do it under the pragmatic grounds that if during the collection of a pre-poll vote of an ill, disabled or illiterate person, where by the Judicial Greffe has arranged for the pre- poll vote to be collected at an individual's home, strictly under the Law, their able- bodied spouse or carer(s) would not be able to have their vote collected in this manner.

Many carer(s) may not wish to leave or may be unable to leave their charge during the voting period. It would seem sensible then, to allow for the Judicial Greffe to be able to arrange for the collection of the pre-poll vote of the spouse or carer(s) at the same time as collecting the vote of a sick, disabled or illiterate voter.

Members may be of the opinion that this is not a necessary measure, still I feel that a clear provision in law should be made.

Financial and manpower implications

The financial and manpower implications of this amendment are in my view minimal. The officer(s) that will have to collect a pre-poll vote from a home address will have to make that journey regardless; the addition is that of paper and ink of a separate ballot paper and a slightly longer stay at said home address to collect both ballot papers.

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