A by-election to appoint four Conseillers in Sark need not have been held after an administrative error meant one of the candidates wasn’t eligible to stand anyway.
There were originally six candidates for the four vacant seats.
However, after the nomination window closed, one candidate withdrew their nomination for personal reasons.
That left five candidates for four seats meaning a contested by-election was scheduled for yesterday.
While yesterday’s election was underway, it was discovered that one of the candidates was not registered on the electoral roll and had to withdraw their nomination.
Paul Armorgie, the Returning Officer of Sark, said “this was not identified at the time of the nomination process due to an administrative oversight”.
He added: “The withdrawal of these two candidates is regrettable for everyone concerned”.
The by-election had already started, even though only four of the five candidates were eligible for election to Chief Pleas.
Their election was confirmed with Patrick Dewe, Samuel John Keyte, Nicolas John Patrick Moloney, and Karl Antony Rang “duly confirmed to be Conseillers Elect of the Chief Pleas of Sark”.
As the by-election was being held to replace four Conseillers who had resigned from Chief Pleas having been elected on different dates, the new Conseillers will now draw lots to decide how long each of them shall serve for.
“The respective terms of office of the candidates shall be determined by lots drawn by the candidates. This will happen under the supervision of myself, as the Returning Officer, on Friday, 19th September before the Conseillers Elect swear their Oath of Allegiance in the Seneschal’s Court,” explained Mr Armorgie.
A spokesperson for Chief Pleas said the cost of holding the by-election was not known, and that because the election was not concluded the number of votes cast and voter turnout cannot be determined.