Senators will return to Jersey’s States Assembly next year after politicians narrowly voted to bring the role back following a three-day debate.
States Members today backed a proposition by Deputy Elaine Millar to restore Senators in time for the 2026 election – with nine island-wide representatives elected to replace the same number of Deputies.
The proposition achieved the the minimum number of votes required for any change to
the electoral system – with 25 votes in favour.
There was 20 against, one abstention, and one vote that was cast too late.
A number of amendments were proposed, which Deputy Millar did not accept.
In the report accompanying her proposition, Deputy Millar said she believed it would be “possible for islanders to have the best of all worlds” by retaining the current “more equal” electoral districts for Deputies, maintaining Constables’ places in the Assembly, and reinstating the Senators”.
She explained: “Under this arrangement, the voting system would maintain its existing level of equity.
“The overwhelming majority of islanders would still have more votes for Deputy than under the previous system, we would all retain our vote for Constable, and we would all have nine votes for Senators.
“This would create a balanced blend of representation at local, district and island-wide level – it is a system that served Jersey well for 70 years, and it can do so again for many years in the future.”
The role of Senator was banished by a States Members’ vote in April 2021, with a new make-up for the Assembly – comprising 37 Deputies and 12 Constables – adopted as the format with effect from the following year’s general election.
Deputy Millar’s successful proposition was the third attempt to resurrect the role this political term.
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