An amendment to the Policy Letter on the upcoming 2025 General Election was originally brought forward by Deputies Gavin St Pier and Peter Ferbrache, however, due to Deputy Ferbrache being absent, it was supported instead by Deputy Steve Falla.
Deputy St Pier wanted SACC to look at the recommendations in the Scrutiny Management Committee’s recent report on IWV as a commitment, with a view to bringing back further recommendations by June.
He also wanted SACC to look specifically at whether IWV should be evolved into a rolling system, much like the elections for the US Senate. It would mean extended six-year terms with a third of the Assembly being elected every three years.
In explaining his amendment Deputy St Pier said the report shouldn’t be shelved and it is “incumbent on the Assembly to acknowledge the findings of the [report]”. He said there are issues with IWV and a lack of ability for voters to scrutinise individual candidates.
Deputy Neil Inder took the biggest issue with the amendment, arguing that it seemed like “slight of hand” and a trojan horse to revisit the island’s model of electing deputies back into debate, despite the current version of IWV being chosen by the public via referendum.
“There is an intention here to get rid of Island Wide Voting,” he said.
Concerns with resource implications had already been raised by States officials within SACC before debate began. You can read more about that HERE.
They were re-visited by Deputy Lester Queripel who said a “lack of resources is incredibly frustrating”.
“Unless SACC can second two civil servants from another area, this work can’t be done – it’ll kick other SACC priorities into the long grass completely.”
The President of SACC, Deputy Carl Meerveld did seek to assure the assembly that the SMC report is being looked at and a report will come back to the States before the end of the term. He also aired his support for a rolling election process.
He stopped short of supporting the amendment because of the resource implications for his committee in committing to something they might not be able to deliver.
It was thrown out 21 votes to 14. The debate on the 2025 General Election continues…