Thursday 27 September 2018
On the 10th October, the public will vote on how to elect their Deputies to the States in Guernsey's first ever referendum. If at least 40% of the people on the Electoral Roll who are eligible to vote turnout, the electoral system which is the most favoured in the referendum will be introduced.
With one week to go until applications for postal votes close, just over 1,800 voters have registered for a postal vote. This figure means that just under 15% of the estimated required turnout[1] have already submitted applications for postal votes to vote in the referendum.
Deputy Roffey, President of the States' Assembly & Constitution Committee, said,
"The take up for postal voting is really encouraging. I am confident that these figures demonstrate that Islanders are actively engaging with the referendum and are eager to be part of Guernsey's first referendum."
Earlier this week, an email was sent to all the students who have recently started or resumed their studies at university. Many have already used the links in the email to register for a postal vote to be sent to them at university.
If a person is not on the Electoral Roll, or has moved house or changed name since the last election in 2016, they also have until 23:59 on Thursday 4th October 2018 to sign up or update their details at: https://registration.gov.gg/ER/. If a person was on the Roll in 2016, and their address/name is the same, they remain on the Roll and do not need to do anything.
Information about registering to vote and postal voting will be available in the foyer at Beau Séjour Leisure Centre before the hustings meeting on Wednesday 3rd October 2018. Staff from the referendum office will be in the foyer from 18:30 that evening.
Alternatively, people still have until 23:59 on Thursday 4th October 2018 to update their details on the Roll or to register for a postal vote. Applications for postal votes can be made online at https://registration.gov.gg/PV/ or by picking up a form from Sir Charles Frossard House, the Guille Allès Library or the various Constables' and Parish offices.
The leaflet providing all the information voters need to know to take part in the referendum is available to read and the video explaining how to vote in the referendum is available to view on www.gov.gg/referendum.
