The total number of people on the electoral register Island wide and the time of the 2008 elections

1240/5(5182)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHAIRMAN OF COMITÉ DES CONNÉTABLES BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 9th MARCH 2010

Question

"Will the Chairman inform members of the following figures relating to the electoral register: 1. t h e total number of those registered, both by parish and Island-wide

1. a t the timeof the October/November2008 elections;
2. i n early 2009 following the elimination ofthose not registered for 3 years;
3. currently?

What measures, if any, have been considered in conjunction with the Privileges and Procedures Committee to improve these figures in time for a potential by-election this year?"

Answer

1 (a). There were 3 public elections in October/November 2008 relating to Connétable s, Senators and Deputies. Not all positions of Connétable or Deputy were contested and details of the electoral registers for these elections have not been retained. However, there would only have been a minor variation in number of electors for these elections compared to the number for the election of Senators. The table below therefore shows the number of electors in each Parish for the Senatorial election 2008.

1 (b). The Public Elections (Jersey) Law 2002 was amended by the Public Elections (Amendment No. 3) (Jersey) Law 2008. These changes came into force on 31st October 2008 and provide, at Article 8(3), that if a person whose name is included on an electoral register has not, for a period of 3 consecutive years, been included in and signed a statement returned under Article  7(3), the Connétable shall serve notice on that person stating that the Connétable shall remove the person's name from the register unless the person delivers to the Connétable , within the period of 28  days following service of the notice, confirmation, in such form as the States may prescribe by Regulations or, if none is prescribed, in such form as the Connétable requires, that the person is still entitled to have his or her name on the register. As the first statements sent under the amended law were in 2009 the 3 consecutive years will be 2009, 2010 and 2011. No persons have therefore been eliminated because they have not registered for 3 years.

1 (c.) The electoral registers are rolling registers and therefore change on a daily basis. The table below gives the number of electors on 4th March 2010.

Number of electors by Parish at dates shown:

The Comité des Connétable s has not, as yet, discussed with the Privileges and Procedures Committee whether any measures should be taken to improve these figures in time for a potential by-election this year.

However, depending upon the timing of a by-election, if any, in 2010 the Connétable s might send the annual statements to every unit of dwelling accommodation in, say, late April rather than late May. With suitable publicity regarding the closing date for electoral registers, if there is to be a by-election, this would provide the ideal opportunity for any person whose name is not currently included on the electoral register in the district in which they currently reside to update their details and so ensure they are eligible to vote.

The figures would also be improved if those no longer eligible to vote, because they are no longer ordinarily resident in an electoral district, were removed from the register. The Connétable s will remove from the register the names of those whom they know to be deceased in accordance with Article 8(3). However, as outlined in answer to 1(b) above, a person will have to fail to register in 2009 – 2011 inclusive before his/her name will be removed and, prior to the removal, the person will receive a notice with 28 days to confirm that he/she is still entitled to be registered.