Newcomer Bruce Woodhead faced incumbents Alex Snowdon and Steve Roberts to represent Alderney in the States of Guernsey.
Just more than 400 votes were cast – a 30% voter turnout.
Mr Snowdon topped the poll, with 339 votes, followed by Mr Roberts with 278 votes. Mr Woodhead got 124 votes.
Mr Snowdon, who is returning for his second term as a Alderney rep, said he was pleased with the result, and was glad there was a contested election.
But he was concerned about the low turnout.
‘We do need to make more of a connection with the public about the importance of voting.’
There were a type of hustings held before election, with the public able to chat with the candidates one-on-one before the election.
But Mr Snowdon said he would prefer to see politicians and candidates up on a stage, facing public questioning, which can then be broadcast on social media so all islanders could see what the politicians have to say, even if they cannot attend in person.
‘I will ask the Alderney States members to support that,’ he
said.
‘I think it would be quite helpful for public engagement, so then more people would come
out to vote.’
Mr Roberts said he was pleased with the result, but was also disappointed in the turnout.
‘We were expecting about another 100 people,’ he said.
‘But when you consider the weather – the conditions were awful – and the football and other events.’
He said he would have also liked to see more teenagers turn out. Alderney gave the vote to 16-year-olds in September.
‘I was a bit disappointed with the number of young people turning out,’ he said.
‘We’ve got to find out why young people are not voting. It’s their future.’
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