Draft Elections (Senators) (Jersey) Amendment Law 202- (P.56/2025): fourth amendment (P.56/2025 Amd.(4)) – comments
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STATES OF JERSEY
DRAFT ELECTIONS (SENATORS) (JERSEY) AMENDMENT LAW 202- (P.56/2025): FOURTH AMENDMENT (P.56/2025 AMD.(4)) – COMMENTS
Presented to the States on 4th September 2025 by the Comité des Connétable s
STATES GREFFE
2025 P.56 Amd.(4).Com.(2)
COMMENTS
The Comité des Connétable s has the following comments on the Fourth amendment to the Draft Elections (Senators) (Jersey) Amendment Law 202- (P.56/2025).
A single election day'
On 10th September 2009, the States Assembly adopted P.109/2009 "Composition and election of States: single election day each year" (47 in favour, 1 abstention, 5 absent). The proposition was that all members of the States standing for election in any one year would, with effect from 2011, be elected on one single election day in that year (the exception being casual vacancies which would need to be filled through a by-election). The Privileges and Procedures Committee supported the concept of a single election day and believed this should be achieved through a general election when the entire membership of the Assembly is renewed on one single day every 4 years (see P.109/2009 Com.).
PPC had noted, in its report to P.72/2009, the MORI polls conducted in 2001 and 2006 when, respectively, 62% and 71% of respondents said there should be a single general election for all members.
Combining elections on the same day
In 2008, the Senators and Connétable s elections were held on the same day with the Deputies elections a month later (a single election day was introduced in 2011).
The PPC report to P.184/2007 (the draft Connétable s (Jersey) Law 200-) explains that:
• the Island wide' issues raised in a senatorial election are normally different from the issues in an election for Connétable , and it is therefore a logical combination to hold these 2 elections on one day
• there has, historically, been more movement between the position of Deputy and Connétable , and this made the alternative option of combining Deputies' and Connétable s' elections on one day less desirable.
Should the Assembly decide to return to two election days, the Connétable s elections should be held on the same day as the Senators.
Timelines
The Fourth amendment, if adopted, would amend the timelines for the nomination of a candidate and the announcement of candidates as follows –
Current | 4th amendment, if adopted |
Nomination period not to begin more than 7 weeks before the day on which the election is held (i.e. 49 days) | 30 days (i.e. 4 weeks 2 days) Page 4 - 7: 37 – Article 17C amended |
Nomination period begins at least 6 weeks before the day on which the election is held (i.e. 42 days) | 25 days (i.e. 3 weeks 4 days) Page 4 - 7: 37 – Article 17C amended |
Announcement of candidates published at least 5 weeks before the day on which the election is held (i.e. 35 days) | 20 days (i.e. 2 weeks 6 days) Page 4 – 8: Article 17H amended |
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P.56/2025 Amd.(4).Com.(2)
The references in the amendments are to days (not working days'). A period of 20 days is unlikely to give adequate time to arrange hustings for Senators (required by new Article 17IB in P.56/2025 - hustings must be held in each Parish after the candidate announcement is published and at least 3 days before the day of the poll) and for postal and pre-poll voting processes.
We note that in 2026, the Easter bank holidays are Friday 3rd April and Monday 6th April 2026, so fall within the 25-30 day nomination period; the report therefore anticipates nominations for Senator might open on Tuesday 7th April 2026.
Financial and staffing implications
The amendment references the election costs in 2022 but these are not indicative of the costs of a second election day in 2026, which are likely to be considerably higher for the following reasons:
- The 2022 elections were held on a Wednesday not a Sunday
- The proposed date of 3rd May 2026 is the Sunday of a bank holiday weekend so staff may also be required to work on the bank holiday Monday
- The availability of volunteers to assist over a bank holiday weekend may be limited
- This would require staff and volunteers to be available over two weekends in 5 weeks.
The financial and staffing implications estimated costs as detailed in the Fourth amendment report are therefore incorrect and should be reassessed.
May is a popular month for parishioners to take annual leave as it typically includes a number of bank holidays and school holidays, and this may impact voter turnout. There is only one weekend in May 2026 unaffected by bank holidays or school holidays (16th and 17th May). There are three bank holidays in May 2026 and school holidays to be mindful of:
- Monday 4th May 2026;
- Saturday 9th May 2026 Liberation Day;
- Monday 25th May 2026; and
- School Holidays: Monday 25th to Friday 29th May 2026.
Conclusion
A single election day on Sunday 7 June 2025 should be maintained for all Senators, Connétable s and Deputies.
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P.56/2025 Amd.(4) Com.(2)