TODAY the whole world is talking about Barack Obama’s remarkable landslide victory in the US presidential election.

Given the significance of president-elect Obama’s achievement and the effect it will inevitably have on countries all around the globe, this is hardly surprising. However, we in Jersey also have our own political concerns, and if democratic institutions are manifestly alive and well in the most powerful community in the world, there are encouraging signs that here, in one of the world’s most prosperous, they are enjoying a new lease of life.

Recently, 21 candidates put themselves forward for the six available Senatorial seats and, collectively, fought a campaign that was notable for the general quality of contestant and for the breadth of opinion aired. Now, after last night’s nomination meetings, we know that the Deputies’ elections will, in most cases, also be hard-fought and will offer Islanders a range of political choice.

Four Deputies might have been returned unopposed, but a total of 63 candidates will vie for the remaining 25 seats in the States Assembly. In St Helier alone, 25 hopefuls are entering the electoral race.
The results of the Senatorial election showed evidence of an appetite for change in the shape of newcomer Ian Le Marquand’s poll-topping performance and the electorate’s enthusiasm for a man who is by no means an establishment figure, Alan Breckon.

When Islanders go to the polls to elect new Deputies there will be ample opportunity to favour well-known candidates but there will also be many chances to give potential new talent a taste of political representation. There are new faces aplenty, as well as more familiar faces who have so far failed to make their mark with the electorate.

Over the next three weeks Islanders will be afforded the opportunity to find out more about candidates’ visions of the future, their political ideals and allegiances, and, indeed, their personalities. As well as seizing these opportunities by attending hustings meetings and following media coverage, anyone and everyone with an interest in Jersey’s future and a chance to make a difference in a contested constituency should exercise their democratic right and democratic duty by going to the polls on 26 November.