States Assembly & Constitution Committee President Neil Inder spoke about the idea on Twitter.
“Sacc are looking to bring in proxy voting for those who have had children or are adopting. In short the vote would be handed to a member to be cast on (an) absent Deputy’s behalf,” he said.
Sacc President Neil Inder
Asked why Sacc was not looking at proxy voting for any Deputy who is not able to attend a vote in person, Deputy Inder added: “That was debated last term. Baby/infant care isn’t an illness or an absence that could be rescheduled. In short, we aren’t in biz [sic] of limiting democracy for women.”
No details have been given yet as to what the criteria would be.
The UK Parliament’s Pilot Proxy Voting Scheme, published in January, has a “maternity leave” duration of six months after the birth of a child for mothers and single adopters, and two weeks for fathers.