Island-wide voting – accept the inevitable

It's not that difficult. Seven electoral districts all with six candidates (we all need to slim down including the States, so 42 plus two Alderney making 44). Deputies would serve a six-year term with half the Assembly being elected every three years, refreshing the States and giving ministers a chance to have a mid-term reshuffle.

Yes, the public on the electoral roll would in the initial election elect all six deputies but the top three pollsters of the successful six in each district would serve a six-year term of office and the lower three pollsters serving a three-year term, thereafter an election would be held for the three vacant positions. Each elector would cast three votes for all districts and all votes would be cast from your own electoral district polling station. Some adjustment of electoral boundary areas will always need to happen as the island develops.

The advantages of this system would be stability, as the whole Assembly would not be elected at the same time and electors would not be faced with choosing all 42 candidates but 21 candidates split into seven areas, three from each area. That would make choosing simpler. The district areas need not worry about their particular area not having full representation because they would have six elected deputies in each area but chosen by the whole island.

Opposition may argue that making all the top pollsters stand at the second election may weaken the Assembly but it should be noted that not all the top pollsters are ministers and thereafter a mix would develop. Deputies normally stand again so a six-year term would not be too long and there would be a get-out after three years if they chose that option.

Reducing the Assembly by three members would save three salaries affording an increase to the members who do get elected to bring them closer to the civil service salary grade applicable. All-island elections may bring an end to candidates walking the streets, more area hustings meetings would be needed and posted manifestos would be necessary to hear prospective deputies' views on current topics.

More use should be made of postal or email voting as now the preferred way of sending in income tax returns is by email, surely it is not too difficult to do likewise for elections. Everyone is on a States computer somewhere as we all get bills from them so surely a letter or email asking who you want to vote for would not be difficult.

Name and address withheld

Email: nbc@cwgsy.net