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Information and public services for the Island of Jersey

L'înformâtion et les sèrvices publyis pouor I'Île dé Jèrri

Referendum on the States Assembly composition

​What was the result of the referendum?

Voters chose Option B from the three options in the referendum:

  • parish Constables continue to be members of the States
  • the number of States members fall from 49 to 42: 30 Deputies and 12 parish Constables
  • six large electoral districts, each choosing five Deputies
Under Option B proposals, which are not binding, St Helier would be divided into two districts, and other parishes would join together to make new electoral districts. Every voter would cast six votes for States members: for five Deputies within their electoral district, and for their parish Constable.​

How was the result ​​reached? 

Across the Island, 16,624 people - 26% of registered voters - cast their vote for one of the three options.

In the first round of the ballot:

  • 39.59% voted for Option A
  • 40.93% voted for Option B
  • 19.48% voted for Option C

Because none of the options received more than half the votes cast, the ballot papers from Option C (which received the fewest votes across the Island) were re-distributed between Option A and Option B where voters had indicated a second choice on their ballot paper.

With Option C's ballot papers re-distributed:

  • 6,707 votes were cast for Option A
  • 8,190 votes were cast for Option B

First rou​​​nd by parish

​Parish ​Option A ​Option B ​Option C ​Spoilt paper
​Grouville ​475 ​562 ​264 ​9
​St Brelade ​956 ​957 ​377 ​31
​St Clement ​728 ​695 ​253 ​9
​St Helier ​1,760 ​932 ​452 ​30
​St John ​179 ​348 ​169 ​4
​St Lawrence ​396 ​434 ​259 ​12
​St Martin ​286 ​551 ​236 ​11
​St Mary ​124 ​192 ​165 ​2
​St Ouen ​280 ​505 ​272 ​12
​St Peter ​341 ​486 ​225 ​10
​St Saviour ​857 ​749 ​318 ​20
​Trinity ​199 ​393 ​249 ​5
​TOTAL ​6,581 ​6,804 ​3,239 ​155

Second round by parish (with second choices added)

​Parish ​Second Preference ​ ​ Final total ​
Option A ​Option B None Option A Option B
​Grouville ​7 ​148 ​109 ​482 ​710
​St Brelade ​22 ​152 ​203 ​978 ​1,109
​St Clement ​0 ​141 112 ​728​ ​836
​St Helier ​40 ​154 ​258 ​1,800 ​1,086
​St John ​5 ​82 ​82 ​184 ​430
​St Lawrence ​12 ​113 ​134 ​408 ​547
​St Martin ​6 ​107 ​123 ​292 ​658
​St Mary ​4 ​48 ​113 ​128 ​240
​St Ouen ​7 ​121 ​144 287​ ​626
​St Peter ​4 ​89 ​132 ​345 ​575
​St Saviour ​14 ​123 ​181 ​871 ​872
​Trinity ​5 ​108 ​136 ​204 ​501
​TOTAL ​126 ​1,386 1,727 ​6,707 8,190

What were the other options?

The Electoral Commission set out two possible options for reform, Option A and Option B in the referendum. Voters were also offered Option C, which was for no change.

Option A

Under Option A:

  • parish Constables would no longer have been members of the States
  • there would have been 42 States members, known as Deputies
  • there would have been six large districts, each choosing seven Deputies

Option C

Under Option C the current system agreed for 2014 would have remained. There would have been 49 States members:

  • 8 Senators elected Island-wide
  • 29 Deputies elected in constituencies
  • 12 parish Constables

Under Option C the Senators would have continued with an Island-wide mandate and would have been elected for the same period of time as Deputies and Constables.

Constables and Deputies would have been elected on a parish basis, as before.​

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