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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHAIRMAN OF PRIVILEGES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE BY DEPUTY T.M. PITMAN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 20th APRIL 2010
Question
"As access to a postal voting mechanism is a fundamental part of all modern, fully functioning, inclusive democracies, will the Chairman inform members what consideration, if any, her Committee has given to ensuring that those who wish to do so, especially the elderly and those with mobility problems or other disabilities, can easily vote by post in the coming elections in line with priorities 6, 8 and 15 of the Strategic Plan 2009 – 14?"
Answer
The Privileges and Procedures Committee established a Public Elections Working Party at the end of 2009 in order to review all matters relating to the Public Elections (Jersey) Law 2002 and the organisation of elections in general. The Working Party is chaired by the Deputy of St. Peter, Vice Chairman of the Privileges and Procedures Committee, and the members are the Connétable of St. Saviour and Deputy Montfort Tadier . The Working Party has considered a range of issues and sought the views of the Jurats, the Judicial Greffe and the Comité des Connétable s all of whom are involved in the practical arrangements relating to elections. The Working Party is hoping to complete its work in the very near future and will then submit its report to the PPC for consideration.
Although it would be premature to disclose the draft conclusions of the Working Party, PPC is nevertheless able to reassure members that the Working Party has been looking carefully at the most appropriate manner in which to ensure that the elderly and those with mobility problems or disabilities as referred to in the question can vote in elections. PPC will be keen to ensure that any recommendations provide a practical and workable way for those who cannot attend the polling station in person to vote and it is possible that alternative mechanisms may be recommended to replace the somewhat complicated postal voting system that exists at present.
Any changes to the Public Elections (Jersey) Law 2002 would, of course, require approval by the whole Assembly but members can be reassured that the Committee is alert to the need to put in place measures to enable all who wish to vote to do so.