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1240/5(4191)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMITÉ DES CONNÉTABLES BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. JOHN
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 3rd FEBRUARY 2009
Question
Can the Chairman inform members if he is aware of any complaints from electors of the Island in respect of the 2008 elections, particularly in relation to persons being disenfranchised by not being on the electoral list despite evidence existing that the electoral form had been returned, or having filled in a postal voting form and forwarded it to the Judicial Greffier's Office but never receiving a voting slip, and if so, how many?
Were there any fraudulent forms returned to the Judicial Greffier's office, if so, how many and what action has been taken?
Have any complaints been received about voting irregularities in any parish, and if so, would he advise which parish, how many complaints and what action, if any, has been taken?
Answer
Neither I nor my fellow Connétable s are aware of any person being disenfranchised by not being on the electoral list despite evidence existing that the electoral form had been returned.
We are aware of a very few persons who attended to vote during the autumn 2008 elections and Referendum who found that their names had been omitted from the register. In accordance with the Public Elections (Jersey) Law 2002, as soon as evidence was provided by the parish that the electoral form had been returned and the name had accidentally been omitted from the electoral register, the Autorisé provided the person with a ballot paper and noted in the return that the person was allowed to vote – such instances are known as administrative errors'. Thus no-one in that situation was disenfranchised and all were able to cast their vote. Only persons who had failed to make a return were not allowed to vote on the day but each was given an application form so that they might register for the next election.
Every Autorisé makes a return to the Royal Court on the conduct of the election and this procés verbal is a reconciliation of the number of ballot papers issued, including postal and pre-poll, and those counted. It also records any irregularities for example damaged or cancelled papers.
The administration of postal and pre-poll voting is a matter within the province of the Judicial Greffe but the Comité is confident that if the Deputy will contact the Deputy Judicial Greffier he will be duly assisted.
I am not aware of any complaints about voting irregularities received in any parish. I am aware – as has been previously reported in the media - that some allegations of voting irregularities have been reported to the Law Officers and are under investigation but I do not have any details relating to those investigations.