It was initially expected to cost about £200,000, prompting public and political opposition, but the States Assembly & Constitution Committee has worked up an alternative plan with substantial savings.
The committee undertook a line-by-line assessment of the budget at meetings this week, focusing on where costs could be cut by organising the by-election differently from June’s general election.
Sacc president Sarah Hansmann Rouxel provided the latest figures late yesterday in response to Guernsey Press inquiries.
‘We are confident that a by-election could be delivered for about £75,000 as a result of us taking a pragmatic approach,’ she said.
‘The committee is clear that any forthcoming by-election does not need to mirror a full island-wide general election in either scale or cost.
‘We have looked at how a by-election can be designed and delivered in a more proportionate, efficient and cost-effective way, recognising that many of the logistical and informational measures required for a general election are not necessary in a by-election.’
A by-election organised for tens of thousands of pounds, rather than hundreds of thousands, would be unlikely to include the circulation of a printed booklet of candidates’ manifestos to every household.
Sacc has received some advice that it would be unrealistic for a by-election to be held until May, but the committee is understood not to have given up hope of voters going to the polls before Easter.
Deputy Hansmann Rouxel said her committee would outline its proposals fully in a policy letter which it hoped would be debated at the end of January.
It is preparing for a political battle at that debate, after Deputy Marc Laine revealed earlier this week that nearly half of States members had privately pledged to back his bid to scrap the by-election and leave the 38th deputy’s seat vacant for the rest of the political term.
A public petition against the by-election launched online a few days ago had about 800 signatures by 5pm yesterday.
‘While I understand the concerns of members of the public about the cost of the by-election, at £75,000 it is happily far removed from speculation online and in a petition that it could cost half a million pounds,’ said Sacc vice-president Yvonne Burford.
‘Only a few short months ago, deputies voted overwhelmingly to hold a by-election in the event of one vacancy, and to perform a U-turn now in the face of a vacancy looks to be both flip-flop government as well as poor governance.
‘It is a fact that an island-wide by-election is part and parcel of the current system of island-wide voting.
‘I hope we will have some strong candidates come forward, with skills and experience which will reap benefits for taxpayers. I’d genuinely encourage critics of the States, including those who regularly contribute to this newspaper, seriously to consider stepping up and taking advantage of this opportunity.’