The Electoral Commission starts work

James Qualtrough | May 21, 2012 | 0 Comments

The Electoral Commission met for the first time on Thursday 17th May 2012 and will shortly launch a public consultation on the composition of the States Assembly.

The Commission has been established by the States of Jersey to examine the classes of States member; their constituencies and mandates; the number of States members and their terms of office.

Chaired by Senator Sir Philip Bailhache, the Commission will begin its work by asking members of the public for their views on the future of the States Assembly.

Senator Bailhache said: “We decided at our first meeting that we should issue a consultation leaflet containing information about the current composition of the States Assembly and inviting Islanders to make submissions on how they see the future composition of the States. The leaflet will give details of how to make a submission and will be distributed Island-wide at the end of May. We also be launching our own website at that time.”

Senator Bailhache will be working with States members Connétable Juliette Gallichan and Deputy James Baker, and lay members Dr. Jonathan Renouf, Professor Ed Sallis and Mr. Colin Storm to undertake the review. Yesterday, the Commission appointed Mr. Storm, who is former Chief Executive of Guinness Ltd. and Chief Executive of the Burger King Corporation, Miami, as its Vice Chairman.

Mr. Storm said: “I am pleased to be appointed as Vice Chairman of the Electoral Commission, and look forward to hearing Islanders’ views on how we can develop a suitable package of reform for the States Assembly. It was clear from our first meeting that all of the 6 members are keen to engage in a very far-reaching programme of public consultation and I hope that as many islanders as possible will respond when we ask for submissions.”