Five months from now we should know who has been elected to the States of Deliberation, representing us politically for the next four years.
The second fully island wide election is being held on 18 June.
38 deputies will be elected from the candidates nominated in May.
A small number of people have already declared their intention to stand for election with some current States members also confirming whether they will or won’t be seeking re-election.
They have a clear advantage over newcomers, with their understanding of how the election process works and importantly how the States works once you’re on the inside. But help is at hand for any first time candidates, or those who want a refresher on what to expect.
Can you stand for election?
Before finding someone to nominate and second you, a prospective candidate will have to confirm they actually can stand for election to the States.
Eligibility criteria includes being 18 years old or over, being registered on the electoral roll, being ordinarily resident in Guernsey on the date of nomination as a candidate and having been ordinarily resident in Guernsey for two years immediately before the date of nomination or for five years in total at any time before being nominated.
Candidates must also confirm that in the last five years they have not been sentenced by a court in the Channel Islands, UK, or Isle of Man, to one year or more in prison.
Course for Prospective Election Candidates
Run by the States, this course is aimed at “members of the public and prospective candidates”.
Those interested needed to register in advance for this “informational course” being run in January and February “that will offer an insight into the realities of being a States’ Member”.
There are reported to be 70 people already signed up for this course, with the first session being held this evening.
Between now and the end of February they will hear from officers to gain insight into how the States of Guernsey is structured and operates, aimed at giving them a better understanding of what to expect should they be successful in the General Election.
These sessions are being held weekly at St Martin’s Community Centre from tonight, with one week based at the Royal Court instead so prospective candidates can learn about what happens at States’ Meetings.
All of the sessions will include time for attendees to ask questions of the different guest speakers about how the island’s government is structured and functions, as well as about their roles.
Attendees are strongly encouraged to attend every session of the seven-week course.
Tonight’s session will feature talks on ‘Being a States Member’ from Deputies Lyndon Trott and Lindsey de Sausmarez.
Next week’s session will feature both the outgoing Head of the Public Service, Mark de Garis, and his successor, Boley Smillie.
Women in Public Life
Amid continuing efforts to encourage more women to stand for election, campaign group Women in Public Life has launched its own training programme ahead of the 2025 election.
This free training covers how to campaign for election and is part of the wider #WomenStandGsy initiative.
The ‘Train to Campaign’ programme begins with a full morning session on Saturday 1 February 2025 at the Institute for Health and Social Care Studies at the PEH.
Expert speakers will offer interactive sessions covering campaign strategy, manifesto writing, setting out policy positions, social media and using volunteers.
That will be followed by a series of evening sessions to give potential candidates a chance to practice putting their message across to voters on the doorstep, at hustings and on social media.
Women in Public Life has made Train to Campaign available to all women who are considering standing in 2025, or at some point in the future. The group said it is also relevant to anyone who wants to volunteer to support another woman to stand.
The course is designed to complement and add to the official States training described above, said Chair of Women in Public Life, Shelaine Green.
“In the current States, the ratio is just one woman deputy for every four men. Yet we know that if a woman stands for election in Guernsey she has just as much chance of success as a man. The island simply needs more women to put themselves forward in the first place.
“One way to encourage more women to stand is to demys/fy the campaigning process and help women to develop and prac/ce the skills to be able to engage with voters with confidence. That’s what out Train to Campaign programme is all about.
“It’s just one part of the support we offer to poten/al candidates. Our website includes videos of exis/ng Depu/es talking about the positives of representing your community and we’re available to provide informa/on and talk things through at any /me, you don’t have to wait for the training to start.’
DIY training
There is absolutely nothing to stop prospective candidates from doing their own thing if they don’t wish to partake in either the States provided training or the sessions offered by Women in Public Life.
Each current deputy can be contacted via gov.gg, although they may be too busy with their ongoing work to answer questions.
Members of the public are able to go and watch States meetings when they are in session to get an understanding of how they work.
They are held in the Royal Court, which can be accessed from St James’ Street. A court usher can direct you to the public gallery.
The below video was published around a year ago, it stars the States Greffier who has a lead role in political proceedings locally.
States meeting usually run from 09:30 to 12:30 and 14:30 to 17:30 on scheduled dates.
There are seven States meetings scheduled between now and the end of April, by which date candidates will need to be declaring their intention to stand for election.
The set dates for upcoming States meetings are 22 January, 5 February, 19 February, 5 March, 19 March, 9 April and 30 April.
The first States meeting scheduled for after June’s island wide election is 1 July when the President of the Policy and Resources Committee will be elected. The rest of P&R will be elected the following day, with elections for other committee presidents taking place on 4 July, and their committee members being chosen on 7 July.
It’s then straight down to business with the States Accounts due to be debated on 15 July.
Useful links
Prospective candidates could do with reading up on the States Accounts, the 2025 Budget, and other documents. They are all publicly available at gov.gg.
The Rules of Procedure of the States of Deliberation and their Committees and the Constitution of the States of Deliberation and Presiding Officers can be found HERE.
The way that States members can lodge business for a States meeting is covered in the ‘States Greffiers Directive’.
The Rules of Procedure of the States of Deliberation and their Committees is often referred to as ‘The Blue Book’.
A Glossary of Guernsey parliamentary terms can be found HERE.
Past States resolutions (decisions) can be found HERE.