Implementation of the electronic Parish electoral register

Published on: 27 September 2005

Question type: Written

Asked by: Gerard Baudains

Answered by: Policy and Resources Committee

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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE BY DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST. CLEMENT

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 27th SEPTEMBER 2005

Question

"Would the President inform members of the progress regarding implementation of the electronic Parish electoral register system and when completion is expected so that it will become operational. Will the Committee be seeking any recompense from the suppliers of the system for the delays and inconvenience experienced, if any?"

Answer

"The work on the implementation of the electronic Parish electoral register system is being overseen by the Computer Services Department on behalf of the Parishes, and is expected for completion by the end of November 2005. The actual implementation date is a matter for decision by the Parishes, but it is unlikely that they will seek to introduce the new system during the current election period.

Work on the electoral register project began in 2003, and there have been some delays in progress due to a number of factors, including staff changes at the suppliers and at Computer Services, whilst the Parishes have at times been obliged to concentrate on more urgent tasks, such as the five-year renewal of driving licences.

It is unfortunate that there have been delays in the project, as it would have been highly desirable for the new system to have been in place in time for the current round of elections. Nonetheless, the project is now nearing completion, and once in place it should provide the Parishes with a reliable and efficient recording system that will help to save staff time, as well as preventing electoral fraud. The project has made good use of the recently introduced Jersey Land and Property Index, and the applications developed during this process will be of future benefit in providing a common address and information system for both the Parishes and the States.

Whilst the Committee accepts that there have been delays, it does not intend to seek recompense from the suppliers as it considers that the system has been delivered in accordance with the functional specification."