A good day for democracy

Postal ballots, political parties, negative campaigning, a rise of populism, a push to elect presidents based on their election success.

Some may seem an obvious consequence now but will fade away by 2024 and disappear.

If a long-term boost to parish democracy is one of the positives then it is definitely a welcome, if unexpected, bonus.

It has been some time since so many parishes had enough candidates for contested douzaine elections. Last year it was one, this year it is seven.

This year’s total of 67 candidates for douzaine and constable positions is almost double the 2019 tally.

And the number of women candidates, at 26, is almost triple the total of just a year ago when four parishes had no female nominees.

So what is going on?

There is some logic to the idea that, having removed parish/district deputies in favour of an island-wide mandate, the douzaines are stepping in to fill the void.

However, while parishes might come to play a larger part in government as a consequence of island-wide voting it may take years for that to be recognised and greater powers to be devolved.

There may, therefore, be another factor at play.

The coronavirus pandemic, months of lockdown and the ongoing travel restrictions have encouraged many islanders to focus on their immediate environment.

Rather than spending days planning the next holiday or recovering from the last business trip more people took time to get involved in the communities on their front doorsteps.

Could it be that the same spirit that saw houses festooned with flags, piles of rocks on the sea walls and a fierce pride in the island’s strength in the face of Covid-19 has encouraged more people to step up and give something back to their local community?

Whatever the reason, the result, and the candidates, are to be applauded.

Now it is up to islanders to get out there and do their bit for democracy by voting.