Public Meetings handout - Electoral Reform

Electoral Reform Scrutiny Panel Review

Background

• The Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel has formed a Sub-Panel to examine the impact of proposed electoral changes.
• These changes are due to be debated and decided upon by the States on 6th June 2017.

• These changes are covered in a main proposal and two separate amendments (providing three options for the Assembly to "choose" from).

• The Panel is examining the impact of these proposed changes and how they will affect the Island and its population.
• The Panel is also reviewing the practicalities of these changes on voting and how concerns will be addressed.
• The Panel is holding these public meetings to try and gather the views of the public on the changes being proposed.

The Current Structure of the States

• The current structure of the States is to have 29 Deputies elected from individual parishes, with the larger parishes sub-divided into districts.
• 12 Parish Connétable s.
• 8 Senators (with an Island-wide mandate).
• If the current proposals (outlined below) are not agreed and approved by the States Assembly, this current structure will remain in place unaltered.

Main Proposal

• The main proposal the States Assembly will be voting on recommends the following changes:

• Reduction in the total number of States Members from 49 to 48.
• Rather than electing one (or more) Deputies per Parish, the Proposal recommends the creation of six super-constituencies. These would be groups of parishes, electing joint groups of Deputies.
• These super-constituencies will made up of the following parishes, with the following number of Deputies representing them:

1. St Helier North – 6 Deputies
2. St Helier South – 6 Deputies
3. South-East District (St Clement and Grouville ) – 4 Deputies
4. East Central District (St Martin and St Saviour) – 4 Deputies
5. North Central District (St John, St Lawrence, St Mary and Trinity ) – 4 Deputies
6. West District (St Brelade, St Ouen and St Peter) – 4 Deputies

• The Proposal highlights that further detail about how these changes would be implemented is still to be confirmed. For example, where you vote and where nomination meetings will be held.

Amendments

• As well as the main proposition, two Amendments have been lodged by Deputy Andrew Lewis of St Helier.
• The first amendment would result in:

• The same number of States Members as the main proposition. (i.e. 48)
• Six super-constituencies (as in the main amendment), but with different groups of parishes:

1. St Helier North – 6 Deputies
2. St Helier South – 6 Deputies
3. South-East District ( Grouville , St Martin and St Clement) – 4 Deputies
4. North District (St Saviour and Trinity ) – 4 Deputies
5. West District (St John, St Lawrence, St Mary and St Ouen) – 4 Deputies
6. South District (St Brelade and St Peter) – 4 Deputies

• The second amendment would result in:

• The removal of the position of Senators (with an island-wide mandate) and their replacement with 4 additional Deputies (to be elected from within the new super- constituencies.)
• Overall, the number of States Members would decrease from 49 to 44.
• The creation of 6 super constituencies as in the first amendment, but with the 4 extra Deputies distributed as follows:

1. St Helier North – 6 Deputies
2. St Helier South – 6 Deputies
3. East District ( Grouville , St Clement and St Martin) – 5 Deputies
4. North District (St Saviour and Trinity ) – 5 Deputies
5. West District (St John, St Lawrence, St Mary and St Ouen) – 5 Deputies
6. South District (St Brelade and St Peter) – 5 Deputies

Contacting the Panel

Should you wish to contact the Panel regarding their review or wish to send in a written submission, stating your view on the proposed changes, please use the details below:

Telephone: 441014

 E-mail: scrutiny@gov.je

 In writing: Scrutiny Office, Morier House, St Helier, JE1 1DD

Written submissions will generally be uploaded to the Scrutiny website, however, we reserve the right not to release certain submissions into the public domain. Any evidence received under a confidential or private agreement, in accordance with Jersey Data Protection legislation will not be released into the public domain. For further information please see the website or contact the Scrutiny Office.

Maps Showing the Proposed Electoral Reform Changes: Main Proposal (P.18/2017):

7. St Helier North –   6 Deputies
8. St Helier South –  6 Deputies
9. South-East District (St Clement and Grouville ) –  4 Deputies
10. East Central District (St Martin and St Saviour) –  4 Deputies
11. North Central District (St John, St Lawrence, St Mary and Trinity ) –  4 Deputies
12. West District (St Brelade, St Ouen and St Peter) –  4 Deputies

Total Deputies =  28 Deputies

8 Senators

12 Connétable s Total number of States Members: 48

First Amendment (P.18/2017):

1. St Helier North –   6 Deputies
2. St Helier South –  6 Deputies
3. South-East District ( Grouville , St Martin and St Clement) –  4 Deputies
4. North District (St Saviour and Trinity ) –   4 Deputies
5. West District (St John, St Lawrence, St Mary and St Ouen) –   4 Deputies
6. South District (St Brelade and St Peter) –  4 Deputies

Total Deputies =  28 Deputies

8 Senators

12 Connétable s Total number of States Members: 48

Second Amendment (P.18/2017):

1. St Helier North –   6 Deputies
2. St Helier South –  6 Deputies
3. East District ( Grouville , St Clement and St Martin) –  5 Deputies
4. North District (St Saviour and Trinity ) –   5 Deputies
5. West District (St John, St Lawrence, St Mary and St Ouen) –   5 Deputies
6. South District (St Brelade and St Peter) –  5 Deputies

Total Deputies =  32 Deputies

0 Senators

12 Connétable s Total number of States Members: 44

Current Structure for Deputies

St Helier  10 Deputies  St Saviour  5 Deputies

St Clement  2 Deputies Grouville  1 Deputy

St Martin  1 Deputy Trinity  1 Deputy

St John  1 Deputy

St Lawrence   2 Deputies

St Mary  1 Deputy

St Ouen  1 Deputy

St Peter  1 Deputy

St Brelade  3 Deputies

Total Deputies =  29 Deputies

8 Senators

12 Connétable s Total number of States Members: 49