Electronic voting in States to get ‘soft launch’ next month

However, it will have a ‘soft launch’ next month.

States members have been emailed by the States Assembly and Constitution Committee after the introduction of the system was approved earlier this year.

It had been hoped to have a soft launch at this month’s meeting and have it up and running in July, but that has now been pushed back.

Sacc said the decision to delay was taken for several reasons.

‘The committee is conscious, given the volume of business to be considered at the two meetings this week, it is not the ideal environment in which to launch the new voting system, given the pressure on members and the parliamentary team,’ it said.

Then there was uncertainty as to when the ordinary meeting will start this week, since the Government Work Plan debate could last past Wednesday, when the ordinary meeting is scheduled to begin.

‘The purpose of the soft launch is to have a “rehearsal” with States members of using the application as they will when it goes live, and lets us see the real-world interactions with the application,’ said Sacc.

‘It will help us to check and fix anything before a full launch.’

The delay would have ‘the additional benefit of allowing time over the summer recess to ensure the States is fully prepared for the system to "go live" at the September Meeting’.