Guernsey Press

Early October general election now favoured option

A GENERAL election on Wednesday 7 October is being worked on as the favoured option.

Published
A voter placing a ballot paper in a ballot box. (Image: PA) (28333325)

The States Assembly and Constitution Committee has been reviewing the options after the Assembly backtracked on its decision in April to stay in power until June next year because of the coronavirus.

At their last meeting, States members had voted for a review of holding an election in November this year, or March, April or May of 2021 - having rejected an attempt to have a September date because of public health fears.

The very next day it was announced that Guernsey would enter phase four of its lockdown exit strategy on 30 May, a return to near normality in the island, because of the progress made in tackling the virus.

SACC met on Tuesday to discuss the date of the general election having received a letter from Policy & Resources asking it to consider late September and early October.

'We are looking into the feasibility of holding the election on 30 September, 7 October or 14 October,' said Sacc president Neil Inder.

'Early indications from the extensive piece of work conducted by our principal officer along with guidance from the registrar general suggest the committee is looking at October 7th.

'There are still a number of steps we need to take before we can come back with proposals. And this includes getting the Public Health advice; establishing a clear picture of how the Budget process will unfold; and assuring ourselves that all the key building blocks of an election can be put in place.

'Our officers are prioritising this work, with support from the senior leadership team, and we will bring it back to the States as soon as possible.'