The election may be over… but the scrutiny is only just beginning

The countdown is on for Jersey’s election candidates and campaign groups to reveal how much they spent trying to win votes – and who helped fund their campaigns. 

All candidates and third parties have until Saturday to submit declarations of their election expenses to the Jersey Electoral Authority (JEA), with failure to do so constituting an offence. 

Once the returns are in, the JEA says it will examine every declaration before publishing them online. It can also request invoices and receipts or arrange for submissions to be audited. 

The matter of “third parties”

The requirement applies not only to candidates, whether elected or not, but also to “third parties”, which are defined as individuals or groups that campaigned for or against candidates during the election. 

The Attorney General was previously clear that candidates aligning themselves with political movements, trade unions or other lobby groups will be required to account for expenses incurred as a result of the connection.

If spending was incurred with a candidate’s express or implied consent, it must be declared by the candidate. Otherwise, the responsibility falls to the third party. 

What happens next?

Expense declarations must be received by Saturday 4 July. Because the Judicial Greffe is closed at the weekend, postal declarations must arrive by 5pm on Friday, although they say that emailed returns will be accepted until Saturday. 

Once all submissions have been reviewed, the JEA will then put them online, allowing the public to see how much candidates spent on their campaigns and where the money came from.

LISTEN… Can money buy you an election in Jersey?