At previous elections, the roll has been available in walk order, often with roads appearing contiguously and maps to aid walking, and always with houses listed sequentially from one end of a road to the other, rather than alphabetically.
But candidates had a shock yesterday when election officials told them that the roll was unavailable in that format this time.
‘The electoral roll is currently available only as a spreadsheet by alphabetical voter name, or in alphabetical order for roads in a parish,’ said Sasha Kazantseva-Miller.
Some existing deputies approached the States Assembly & Constitution Committee and asked if the problem could be sorted out quickly.
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‘This will be a major blow to candidates’ ability to canvass at this election, as it will make it extremely hard, if not impossible, to do canvassing efficiently and effectively,’ said Deputy Kazantseva-Miller.
‘This is a major blow to island-wide voting, perpetuating generic campaigning on social media and other channels, and detracting from face-to-face canvassing of voters who have actually registered, like in the old times.
‘I have liaised with Sacc, and understand other deputies have as well, to highlight this key omission and issue, urging them to do something to restore the walking maps as soon as possible.’
It is understood that the committee scrapped production of the electoral roll in walk order as a cost-cutting measure ahead of the second island-wide election.
Sacc member Yvonne Burford said she found out about the move only after putting in her nomination yesterday. The decision was made before she became a member of the committee last year.
‘I was extremely concerned when I learned this morning that walk order maps were not being provided,’ said Deputy Burford.
‘They facilitate candidates calling on those people who are on the electoral roll and it is completely unacceptable to candidates and voters for these maps to have been withdrawn.’
The expense of producing the roll and maps in walk order was understood to have been a small part of the overall cost of £877,000 of holding the previous general election.
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