ELECTIONS AND REFORM: SMALL BRANCH VIEW
ELECTIONS AND VOTING REFORM ON ALDERNEY
Robert McDowall is
an elected member of the States of Alderney, one of the Channel Islands within the Bailiwick of Guernsey, where he serves as Chairman of the Finance Committee and Deputy Chairman of the Policy Committee. Outside politics, Robert is an adviser to a number of businesses and a consultant to financial services think tank, Zyen. com. Robert has recently completed his three year term as President of the Folklore Society, an Academic Charity, of which he is also a Trustee, based at the Warburg Institute in London.
This article examines the Electoral System in the Island of Alderney where I am an elected Member of the Legislature (“The States”). Alderney is a small Island within the Bailiwick of Guernsey but retains its own Legislature. The States meets 10 times each year to debate and pass legislation submitted for consideration. Introduction Alderney is a self-governing, democratic territory and one of the principal Islands of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The Island is outside the European Community and is also a British off-shore finance centre to the larger islands. The United Kingdom looks after the Channel Islands in the fields of Foreign Affairs, Defence and the Islands’ association with the European Union (EU). In many senses the States of Alderney is ‘a Parish Council posing as a jurisdiction.’ It has to address a wide range and scale of issues ranging from jurisdictional ratification of international treaties and agreements to minor regulatory matters such as licences, traffic and window designs! The current legislative structure The States of Alderney (the
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Legislature) consists of a President and ten States Members. The President chairs the monthly States Meetings and stands for election every four years. The States Members hold office for a period of four years and in alternate years, there is an ‘Ordinary Election’ at which five of the sitting members may offer themselves for re-election. Thus, continuity at all levels is maintained and represents a stable, experienced parliamentary body. In addition, two States of Alderney Representatives are full members of the Guernsey States of Deliberation and take part in the Government of the Bailiwick with full voting rights. Under a temporary arrangement established in 2007, but yet to be reviewed formally, they are elected by plebiscite some 14 days after the States of Alderney Election for a period of two years. By custom the States of Alderney has ratified its support of that election outcome. Prior to 2007, the States of Alderney alone nominated the Alderney Representatives to the States of Guernsey. In terms of metrics, resident population of the Island according to an electronic census in 2014 is approximately
2,000 people. The electoral role consists of about 1,380 electors. Turnout in the last two elections has been 69% and 73% respectively, while the turnout in the subsequent plebiscite has been just under 50%. In the past two States of Alderney Elections, 12 candidates have contested 5 seats. In the plebiscite for representation in the States of Guernsey, three and four candidates respectively have contested. A number of local services on Alderney are provided by the States of Guernsey. These ‘transferred’ services, which include health, policing and education, are provided in return for the collection of income and other taxes from the people of Alderney. The States of Alderney delivers most of the public services for Alderney, while States of Guernsey staff deliver transferred services. Current voting procedures “In accordance with The Government of Alderney Law 2004, the States of Alderney shall hold elections every two years or appoint a day, not earlier than the 14 November and not later than the 14 December in that year (or such other dates as the States may appoint by Ordinance) on which an