MORE than 1,000 Islanders are expected to vote via the postal service in the forthcoming elections.
The option is open to people who will struggle to attend the voting on 15 October, including people who are out of the Island, those with other commitments or people with disabilities.
It also means that people can vote well in advance of the official polling day and before the hustings have run their course. The ballot books have now been delivered, and when voters have made their choices and had their paper witnessed they can either post them back or deliver them to the Judicial Greffe in the Royal Square.
Deputy Judicial Greffier Paul Matthews said that a room had been set aside to deal with the postal vote service in the States Building. ‘There were 1,082 postal votes in the 2005 election,’said Mr Matthews. ‘We have so far had more than 200 applications, which is more than were received at the same time in 2005. We are expecting the ballot books to be in by the end of the week and then they will be sent out.’
When applying for their right to vote from the comfort of their own home, voters can choose to receive up to three separate ballot books – one each for the Senatorial election, the Constables’ election and the referendum on Central European Time.
Despite most things in life being available online these days, Mr Matthews said that e-mail was still not secure enough to be used for postal voting and that ‘snail mail’ was much safer. ‘Each posted ballot needs a witness’s signature and the voter’s signature,’ he said. ‘The law doesn’t provide for e-mailed votes because they are not secure enough.’
The form to apply for a postal vote are available from the States website (www.gov.je), the States Building in the Royal Square or from the 12 parish halls.
Deputy Judicial Greffier Paul Matthews said that they had received about 200 applications so far. Picture by Jon Guegan (00592323)
Article posted on 3rd October, 2008 - 2.53pm
