Thursday, 1 September 2011

A whole new set of politicians

 
 
If you live in Jersey and want to vote in this year's elections you've only got a week to get registered.

This year's election is being held on Wednesday 19th October and will be the nearest the island has come to a general election.

Potentially all the constables, deputies and half of the senatorial seats could be contested.

But that wont be clear until next week after two nomination nights.

Since the war there's been 12 senators in the house, but over the next three years that is being cut to just eight.

The first stage will be in October, when, instead of electing six senators islanders will only get to choose four.

We will not known until next Tuesday just how many candidates there are - but so far eight have declared. They include a former bailiff, and a disgraced senator who was once the so-called father of the house - the longest serving senator.

There are 29 deputies and all of them could potentially face a contested election. If all the candidates who say they are standing, do put their names forward, it is clear well have at least 10 elections. But, once again we wont know the full picture until nomination night. For the deputies that's the night after that for the Senators - next Wednesday.

Candidates who want to stand for Constable also have to come forward on Wednesday. This is the first time all 12 have come up at the same time.

A whole new set of politicians