Island-wide voting is about self-interest
SO HERE we go again – the island must elect its politicians island-wide. Forgetting all of the logistical difficulties concerning the proposed method of election, what possible reason, apart of course from self-interest, can we have for such haste in changing the system before the States Review Committee (and States Assembly and Constitution Committee) completes their review(s) of the electoral system? You never know, the review(s) might even recommend fewer deputies.
So, the petitioners are suggesting that our politicians vote on island-wide matters so deputies should be elected island-wide – that is like suggesting that the UK House of Commons votes on national matters so all members of Parliament should be voted for nationally. Nonsense. No, I believe the real reason for haste is self-interest.
How many people actually used all their votes at the last general election? It would be interesting to know. I did not and I do not know anyone who did. Island-wide voting will be no different.
Island-wide voting will play into the hands of sitting deputies and many of them (and probably the petitioners) will be re-elected with small percentages of the vote – this is most likely the reason for the desire to have island-wide voting introduced for the 2016 election.
The headline on page three of the Press (14 February) suggests that island-wide voting could stimulate interest in elections. There is probably some merit in some form of island-wide voting provided it is introduced with the retention of parish representation, with at least one deputy for each parish. Is it not just possible that electing all deputies by island-wide franchise would produce the opposite result? I, for one, will never vote again if all deputies are to be elected by island-wide voting.
GEOFFREY CHAPMAN,
Calstock,
Bas Courtils,
St Saviour's,
GY7 9YL.
