Change to general election recount rules is proposed
A RECOUNT at the next general election will be less likely if a proposition being considered by the States’ Assembly and Constitution Committee is accepted by the States.
The law as it stands means that if the percentage difference of the total number of votes cast between a successful candidate and an unsuccessful candidate is 2% or under, then a recount could be called.
However, Sacc is going to suggest that a recount is called only when the difference between the votes cast for the 38th and 39th candidate is 2% or less.
At the last election in 2020, six candidates found themselves eligible to call for a recount and four of them did so.
With 6,475 votes – 26.3% of the vote – Sacc president Carl Meerveld placed 38th in 2020. His nearest unsuccessful rival polled 6,353 votes, just 0.5% less of total votes cast and well within the threshold for a recount. But even the candidate placed 44th, who had nearly 500 fewer votes than Deputy Meerveld, was entitled to a recount.
If the election had taken place with Sacc’s proposed threshold in place, only the 39th candidate would have been eligible to call for a recount, with the 122 votes between them amounting to a 1.88% difference.
A draft report on the proposals was discussed by Sacc at its recent meeting and all members agreed the change, although Deputy John Gollop said that he would have preferred 3%.
Deputy Simon Fairclough said he thought the move made sense.
The report is also set to cover whether or not a full recount takes place, with the Bailiff having the discretion to decide.
