Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Election Observers
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STATES OF JERSEY
COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION ELECTION OBSERVERS
Lodged au Greffe on 9th October 2025 by the Connétable of St. Helier
Earliest date for debate: 11th November 2025
STATES GREFFE
2025 P.74
PROPOSITION
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion
to request the Chair of the Privileges and Procedures Committee to invite election observers from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to monitor and report on the General Election to be held on 7th June 2026.
CONNÉTABLE OF ST. HELIER
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P.74/2025
REPORT
On 11th September this year the States Assembly adopted P.56/2025, enacting the legislation necessary to implement its decision in March, by the narrowest majority vote, to approve Deputy Millar 's proposal to create 9 Senatorial seats in the next Assembly, at the expense of a Deputy seat in each of the electoral districts.
Interventions by some States Members during the 3rd reading of P.56 as well as during the debate on the first Amendment, which failed by the narrowest majority vote, to make the changes to the Island's electoral system less damaging to the central tenet of representative democracy, voter equity, showed that there is a surprising lack of understanding in some quarters as to what makes a parliament fair and legitimate. Most worrying, perhaps, were the Orwellian' assertions that the resultant gerrymandering of the Island's electoral system would increase public confidence and trust in it.
It was concerning, therefore, to learn from the Chair of PPC in his summing up that it was not intended to invite election observers from the CPA to provide an informed, expert and independent view of the Island's election next year, and the purpose of this proposition is to ensure that such a peer review of our electoral system takes place, with the necessary funds being included in the forthcoming budget.
Financial and staffing implications
The cost for election observers in the previous election in 2022 was £26,992.05, however this would need to be adjusted for inflation, and it is therefore anticipated the cost would be higher.
Children's Rights Impact Assessment
A Children's Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) has been prepared in relation to this proposition and is available to read on the States Assembly website.
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P.74/2025