Contents

Part 1  3

Part 2  17

Part 3  17

Part 4  18

A LAW to amend the Elections (Jersey) Law 2002 in relation to electoral registers, and for connected purposes.

THE STATES, subject to the sanction of His Most Excellent Majesty in Council, have adopted the following Law –

“candidates’ lists of voters” means candidates’ primary lists of voters and candidates’ supplementary lists of voters;

“candidates’ primary list of voters” has the meaning given in Article 12A(1);

“candidates’ supplementary list of voters” has the meaning given in Article 12A(2);

“electoral number” has the meaning given in Article 6(4)(a)(i);

“late registration period” has the meaning given in Article 9A(5);

“nomination day” means –

(a)     in relation to a parish election, the day on which the nomination meeting for the election is held;

(b)     in relation to a public election, the first day of the nomination period for the election (determined under Article 17C);

“working day” means a day other than –

(a)     a Saturday or a Sunday;

(b)     Christmas Day or Good Friday; or

(c)     a day that is a public holiday or a bank holiday under the Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Jersey) Law 1951.

(4)     Articles 5A to 5D provide for the entitlement to be registered as a future voter in the electoral register for an electoral district.

5A     Advance registration: general provision

A person who is entitled to be registered as a future voter in an electoral register is entitled to have their name included in that electoral register (but see Article 2(3A) for provision restricting the person’s entitlement to vote in an election).

5B     Advance registration: age grounds

(1)     This Article applies in relation to a person who –

(a)     satisfies the requirements of Article 5(1)(c) (period of residency); but

(b)     is under the age of 16.

(2)     The person is entitled, at a time within the advance registration period, to be registered as a future voter in the electoral register for the electoral district in which the person is ordinarily resident at that time.

(3)     For the purposes of paragraph (2), the “advance registration period” is the period of 3 months ending with the day on which the person will attain the age of 16.

5C      Advance registration: residency grounds

(1)     This Article applies in relation to a person who –

(a)     is at least 16 years old and ordinarily resident in Jersey; but

(b)     does not satisfy the requirement in Article 5(1)(c) (period of residency).

(2)     The person is entitled, at a time within the advance registration period, to be registered as a future voter in the electoral register for the electoral district in which the person is ordinarily resident at that time.

(3)     For the purposes of paragraph (2), the “advance registration period” is the period of 3 months ending with the day on which the person would, if the person continued to be ordinarily resident in Jersey, satisfy the requirement in Article 5(1)(c).

5D     Advance registration: age and residency grounds

(1)     This Article applies in relation to a person who is ordinarily resident in Jersey but –

(a)     is under the age of 16; and

(b)     does not satisfy the requirement in Article 5(1)(c) (period of residency).

(2)     The person is entitled, at a time within the advance registration period, to be registered as a future voter in the electoral register for the electoral district in which the person is ordinarily resident at that time.

(3)     For the purposes of paragraph (2), the “advance registration period” is the period of 3 months ending with the later of –

(a)     the day on which the person will attain the age of 16; and

(b)     the day on which the person would, if the person continued to be ordinarily resident in Jersey, satisfy the requirement in Article 5(1)(c).

5E      Chief Minister to supply lists of registrable persons

(1)     The Chief Minister must, from time to time, in relation to each electoral district –

(a)     create a list of registrable persons in relation to the electoral district; and

(b)     supply the list to the electoral administrator for the parish that is the electoral district or in which the electoral district is located.

(2)     If, at any time, an electoral administrator requests the Chief Minister to create and supply to them a list of registrable persons (in accordance with paragraph (1)(a) and (b)), the Chief Minister must comply with that request within a reasonable period.

(3)     A person is a “registrable person” in relation to an electoral district if –

(a)     the person is registered in the Register of Names and Addresses;

(b)     the person’s residential address, as recorded in that Register, is located in the electoral district; and

(c)     it appears to the Chief Minister, having taken the relevant data into account, that –

(i)      the person is at least 16 years old, is ordinarily resident in the electoral district and satisfies the requirements of Article 5(1)(c) (period of residency); or

(ii)      the person is entitled to be registered as a future voter in the electoral register for the electoral district.

(4)     For the purposes of paragraph (3)(c) “relevant data” means –

(a)     information included in the Register of Names and Addresses;

(b)     information obtained under or for the purposes of the Social Security (Jersey) Law 1974, disclosed to the Chief Minister under Article 8A of the Revenue Administration (Jersey) Law 2019; and

(c)     other information (including information referred to in Article 5F) that the Chief Minister considers relevant for indicating whether or not a person meets the conditions in paragraph (3)(c).

(5)     The list created and supplied under paragraph (1) must –

(a)     include the following information, as recorded in the Register of Names and Addresses, in relation to each person included in the list –

(i)      the person’s name (including title);

(ii)      the person’s residential address;

(iii)     the person’s date of birth;

(b)     identify the persons who appear to be entitled to be registered as future voters under any of Articles 5B to 5D; and

(c)     in relation to each person who appears to be entitled to be registered as a future voter, specify the earliest date on which the person may satisfy the requirements of Article 5.

(6)     In this Article, “Register of Names and Addresses” means the register established and maintained under Part 2 of the Register of Names and Addresses (Jersey) Law 2012.

5F      Disclosure and use of information

(1)     Information obtained (for any purpose) by a relevant public authority may be disclosed to the Chief Minister for use for the purposes of Article 5E(3)(c).

(2)     The reference in paragraph (1) to information obtained by a relevant public authority includes, in particular, information obtained under or for the purposes of –

(a)     the Health Insurance (Jersey) Law 1967; or

(b)     the Income Support (Jersey) Law 2007.

(3)     In this Article, “relevant public authority” means –

(a)     a Minister;

(b)     a department established on behalf of the States;

(c)     a body, office or unit of administration established on behalf of the States (including under an enactment);

(d)     a parish.

6        Electoral registers

(1)     The electoral administrator for a parish must prepare and maintain, in electronic form, an electoral register for each electoral district that is, or is within, the parish.

(2)     The electoral administrator must include a person’s name in the electoral register for an electoral district if –

(a)     the person’s name is included in a list supplied under Article 5E(1)(b) in relation to the electoral district (subject to the exception in paragraph (3)(a));

(b)     an application under Article 6A for inclusion in the electoral register for the electoral district has been granted (subject to the exception in paragraph (3)(b)); or

(c)     the electoral administrator is otherwise satisfied that the person is entitled to have their name included in the electoral register for the electoral district.

(3)     But –

(a)     an electoral administrator is not required to include a person’s name in an electoral register under paragraph (2)(a) if –

(i)      the person’s name has been removed from the electoral register under Article 6C(2) or 6D(2) (and has not subsequently been reinstated); or

(ii)      the electoral administrator is not satisfied that the person is entitled to have their name included in the electoral register;

(b)     an electoral administrator is not required to include a person’s name in an electoral register under paragraph (2)(b) if, since the application was granted, the person’s name has been removed from the electoral register under Article 6C(2) or 6D(2) (and has not subsequently been reinstated).

(4)     An electoral register must include –

(a)     in relation to each person whose name is included in the register –

(i)      a reference number (an “electoral number”) assigned to the person by the electoral administrator; and

(ii)      the person’s residential address; and

(b)     in relation to each person who is registered as a future voter under any of Articles 5B to 5D, the last day of the advance registration period in relation to the person.

6A     Application for inclusion in electoral register

(1)     In this Article, “unregistered voter” means a person –

(a)     who is entitled to have their name included in an electoral register for an electoral district (the “appropriate electoral register”); but

(b)     whose name is not included in the appropriate electoral register.

(2)     An unregistered voter may apply for inclusion in the appropriate electoral register.

(3)     If a person makes an application under paragraph (2) for inclusion in an electoral register for an electoral district, the application must be made –

(a)     to the electoral administrator for the parish that is the electoral district or in which the electoral district is located; and

(b)     in the form provided to the unregistered voter by the electoral administrator.

6B     Determination of application for inclusion in electoral register

(1)     This Article applies if an electoral administrator for a parish receives an application under Article 6A(2) for inclusion in an electoral register.

(2)     The electoral administrator must, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of the application –

(a)     if the electoral administrator is satisfied that the applicant is entitled to be included in the electoral register, add the applicant’s name to the electoral register and give written notice to the applicant stating that the application has been granted;

(b)     if the electoral administrator is not satisfied that the applicant is entitled to be included in the electoral register, give written notice to the applicant stating –

(i)      that the electoral administrator has not added the applicant’s name to the register; and

(ii)      the reason for that decision; or

(c)     if the electoral administrator considers that the application cannot be determined on the basis of the information available to them, give written notice to the applicant –

(i)      stating that the application cannot be determined without the provision of further information; and

(ii)      specifying the further information required.

(3)     If an electoral administrator gives a notice under paragraph (2)(c), they must, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of the information specified in the notice, take the step described in paragraph (2)(a) or (b).

6C      Removal of name: omission from Article 5E list

(1)     This Article applies if –

(a)     a person’s name has been included in a list supplied under Article 5E(1)(b) in relation to an electoral district;

(b)     the person’s name is included on the electoral register for the electoral district under Article 6(2)(a); and

(c)     the person’s name is omitted from a list subsequently supplied under Article 5E(1)(b) in relation to the electoral district.

(2)     The electoral administrator must remove the person’s name from the electoral register, unless the electoral administrator is satisfied that the person continues to be entitled to have their name included in the register.

(3)     If a person’s name is removed under this Article, the electoral administrator must take reasonable steps to notify the person of the removal.

6D     Removal of name: death or leaving electoral district

(1)     This Article applies if –

(a)     the electoral administrator for a parish is satisfied that a person whose name is on the electoral register for an electoral district that is, or is within, the parish –

(i)      is deceased;

(ii)      is no longer ordinarily resident in the electoral district; or

(iii)     for any other reason, is not entitled to have their name included in the electoral register for the electoral district; and

(b)     Article 6C does not apply in relation to the person.

(2)     The electoral administrator must remove the person’s name from the electoral register.

(3)     If a person’s name is removed on a ground specified in paragraph (1)(a)(ii) or (iii), the electoral administrator must take reasonable steps to notify the person of the removal.

6E      Confirmation of inclusion on electoral register

(1)     The electoral administrator for a parish must, on request by a person –

(a)     inform the person whether or not the person’s name is included in the electoral register for an electoral district that is, or is within, the parish; and

(b)     if there is more than 1 electoral district within the parish, provide the information under paragraph (a) in relation to each of those electoral districts.

(2)     If the electoral administrator fails to comply with paragraph (1) within a reasonable period of the request being made, the person may apply to the Royal Court for an order requiring the electoral administrator to provide the person with the information referred to in paragraph (1)(a) and (b).

9A     Supplementary electoral registers for elections of Deputies and Connétables

(1)     This Article applies if the Royal Court has made an order for the holding of an election of a Deputy or Connétable for a constituency.

(2)     An electoral administrator for the constituency must prepare and maintain, in electronic form, a supplementary electoral register for each relevant electoral district that is, or is within, the constituency.

(3)     A supplementary register has effect only for the purposes of –

(a)     the election to which the order mentioned in paragraph (1) relates; or

(b)     if the order relates to more than 1 election to be held on the same day, each of those elections.

(4)     For the purposes of each election mentioned in Article 9A(1), the supplementary electoral register in force for an electoral district is that register as it stands at the end of the late registration period.

(5)     For the purposes of this Article and Article 9B, the late registration period –

(a)     begins at the time when the electoral register for the public election or elections becomes, in accordance with Article 12(1) or (3), the electoral register in force for the election or elections; and

(b)     ends at midday on the seventh working day before the day of the poll or polls.

(6)     In paragraph (2) –

(a)     the reference to an electoral administrator for a constituency is a reference to an electoral administrator for a parish that alone, with other parishes, or in part, comprises the constituency; and

(b)     “relevant electoral district”, in relation to an electoral administrator for a parish, means an electoral district that is, or is within, the parish.

9B     Supplementary electoral registers: content

(1)     This Article applies if an electoral administrator is required by Article 9A(2) to prepare and maintain a supplementary electoral register for an electoral district.

(2)     The electoral administrator must include a person’s name in the supplementary electoral register for the electoral district if –

(a)     during the late registration period, the electoral administrator is required by Article 6(2) to include the person’s name in the electoral register for the electoral district; and

(b)     the person’s name is not included in an electoral register for any other electoral district that is an electoral district in relation to an election of a Deputy or Connétable; and

(c)     if the person is entitled to be included in the electoral register as a future voter under any of Articles 5B to 5D, the date entered in the electoral register, in relation to the person, under Article 6(4)(b), is on or before the date of the poll.

(3)     Article 6(4)(a) applies to a supplementary electoral register as it applies to an electoral register.

10      Appeals

(1)     A person may appeal to the Royal Court against a decision of an electoral administrator to –

(a)     refuse to grant an application made under Article 6A for the person’s name to be included in an electoral register; or

(b)     remove the person’s name from an electoral register under Article 6C or 6D.

(2)     An appeal may not be brought after the end of the period of 28 days beginning with –

(a)     the day on which the notice of the refusal or removal is given; or

(b)     if no notice is given, the day on which the person becomes aware of the refusal or removal.

12      Electoral register in force for election

(1)     For the purposes of an election, the electoral register in force for an electoral district is that register as it stands at midday on the last working day before nomination day in relation to the election.

(2)     But paragraph (3) applies (instead of paragraph (1)) for the purposes of an election if –

(a)     the election is to be held on the same day as at least 1 other election;

(b)     nomination days in relation to those elections fall on 2 consecutive days; and

(c)     but for the operation of this paragraph, there would be 2 electoral registers, as in force on 2 consecutive days, for an electoral district.

(3)     If this paragraph applies for the purposes of an election, the electoral register in force for an electoral district is that register as it stands at midday on the last working day before the earliest of the nomination days referred to in paragraph (2)(b).

(4)     The electoral administrator for a parish must, in relation to an election, make available to the Judicial Greffier, and to the Autorisés and Adjoints for the election, a copy of each electoral register in force for an electoral district that is, or is within, the parish.

(5)     The electoral administrator for a parish may, in relation to a public election, make available to the electoral administrator for another parish, and to the Autorisés and Adjoints for another public election, a copy of each electoral register referred to in paragraph (4).

12A   Candidates’ primary and supplementary lists of voters: definitions

(1)     “Candidates’ primary list of voters”, in relation to an election, means a list of the names and addresses of the persons who –

(a)     are included in the electoral register in force for the purposes of that election; and

(b)     have not opted out of inclusion in candidates’ lists of voters, in accordance with Article 12C or 12D.

(2)     “Candidates’ supplementary list of voters”, in relation to a public election, means a list of the names and addresses of the persons who –

(a)     are included in the supplementary electoral register in force for the purposes of that election; and

(b)     have not opted out of inclusion in candidates’ lists of voters, in accordance with Article 12C or 12D.

12B   Preparation and provision of candidates’ lists of voters

(1)     The electoral administrator for a parish must, in relation to a public election –

(a)     prepare –

(i)      a candidates’ primary list of voters for each electoral district that is, or is within, the parish; and

(ii)      a candidates’ supplementary list of voters for each of those electoral districts;

(b)     provide, free of charge, a copy of each list prepared under paragraph (a) in relation to an electoral district to a person who –

(i)      has become a candidate for the election in accordance with Article 17H(4);

(ii)      is a candidate for a constituency that is, or includes, the electoral district; and

(iii)     requests a copy of those lists.

(2)     The electoral administrator for a parish must, in relation to a parish election –

(a)     prepare a candidates’ primary list of voters for the electoral district that is the parish; and

(b)     provide, free of charge, a copy of the list prepared under paragraph (a) to a person who –

(i)      has been admitted as a candidate for the election in accordance with Article 18; and

(ii)      requests a copy of the list.

12C    Candidates’ lists of voters: opt-out notices

(1)     A person may opt out of inclusion in candidates’ lists of voters by giving written notice to the relevant electoral administrator that their details are not to be included in lists prepared under Article 12B.

(2)     A person may revoke a notice given by them under paragraph (1) by giving written notice to that effect to the relevant electoral administrator (and, accordingly, the person ceases to be opted out for the purposes of Article 12A(1)(b) or (2)(b)).

(3)     In this Article, “relevant electoral administrator”, in relation to a candidates’ list of voters for an electoral district, means the electoral administrator for the parish that is the electoral district or in which the electoral district is located.

12D   Electoral administrators required to notify previous opt-outs

(1)     Paragraph (2) applies if –

(a)     a person’s name is included in the electoral register for an electoral district that is, or is within, a parish (“Parish A”);

(b)     the person has opted out of inclusion in candidates’ lists of voters, under Article 12C or this Article, for an electoral district in Parish A (and the notice giving effect to the opt-out has not been revoked under Article 12C or cancelled under this Article);

(c)     the person is subsequently removed from the electoral register for the electoral district referred to in sub-paragraph (a); and

(d)     on removal, the person is to be included in the electoral register for an electoral district that is, or is within, another parish (“Parish B”).

(2)     The electoral administrator for Parish A must, on removal of the person from the electoral register for the first electoral district, notify the electoral administrator for Parish B that the person had opted out of inclusion in candidates’ lists of voters.

(3)     If a notice is given under paragraph (2) –

(a)     the person to whom the notice relates is treated as having opted out of inclusion in candidates’ lists of voters for each electoral district that is, or is within, Parish B; and

(b)     the person may cancel the notice by giving written notice to that effect to the electoral administrator for Parish B (and, accordingly, the person ceases to be treated as having opted out for the purposes of Article 12A(1)(b) or (2)(b)).

12E    Further provision about notices under Articles 12C and 12D

(1)     A notice given to an electoral administrator under Article 12C(1) or (2) or Article 12D(3)(b) must be in the form provided by the electoral administrator.

(2)     A notice given under Article 12C or 12D has effect –

(a)     in relation to both candidates’ primary lists of voters and candidates’ supplementary lists of voters; and

(b)     in relation to –

(i)      each public election held after the notice is given, except as provided by Article 12F(2)(a) and (4)(a); and

(ii)      each parish election held after the notice is given, except as provided by Article 12F(6)(a).

(3)     If the conditions in paragraph (4) are met –

(a)     a notice given by a person to an electoral administrator for a parish under Article 12C(1) is treated as being revoked;

(b)     a notice given in respect of a person to an electoral administrator for a parish under Article 12D(2) is treated as being cancelled.

(4)     The conditions are that –

(a)     the person is removed from the electoral register for an electoral district that is, or is within, the parish; and

(b)     the person is not (on removal from the electoral register referred to in sub-paragraph (a)) to be included in the electoral register for any other electoral district within that parish.

12F    Candidates’ lists of voters: opt-out, revocation and cancellation notices given close to an election

(1)     Paragraph (2) applies, in relation to a public election, if a notice is given under Article 12C or 12D –

(a)     after midday on the last working day before nomination day in relation to the election; and

(b)     at or before midday on the seventh working day before the day of the poll or polls for the election.

(2)     The notice –

(a)     does not have effect in relation to a candidates’ primary list of voters for the election; but

(b)     in accordance with Article 12E(2)(b), has effect in relation to –

(i)      candidates’ primary lists of voters for subsequent elections; and

(ii)      candidates’ supplementary lists of voters for that election and for subsequent elections.

(3)     Paragraph (4) applies, in relation to a public election, if a notice is given under Article 12C or 12D after midday on the seventh working day before the day of the poll or polls for the election.

(4)     The notice –

(a)     does not have effect in relation to a candidates’ supplementary list of voters for the election; but

(b)     in accordance with Article 12E(2)(b), has effect in relation to candidates’ primary and supplementary lists of voters for subsequent elections.

(5)     Paragraph (6) applies, in relation to a parish election, if a notice is given under Article 12C or 12D –

(a)     after midday on the last working day before nomination day in relation to the election; and

(b)     on or before the day of the poll for the election.

(6)     The notice –

(a)     does not have effect in relation to a candidates’ primary list of voters for the election; but

(b)     in accordance with Article 12E(2)(b), has effect in relation to candidates’ primary lists of voters for subsequent elections.

13      Regulations amending this Part

The States may by Regulations –

(a)     amend a period of time specified in this Part;

(b)     amend Article 5E to alter the required contents of a list created and supplied under Article 5E(1) (list of registrable persons);

(c)     add an entry to the list in Article 5F(2) (information obtained for certain purposes).

72A   Transitional provision: electoral registers

(1)     An electoral administrator for a parish is not required to send any statements under Article 7(2) in 2025.

(2)     If an electoral administrator sends a statement under Article 7(2) to a person in 2025, the person is not required to comply with Article 7(3) in relation to that statement.

(3)     Article 7A does not apply in 2026.

(4)     The States may by Regulations –

(a)     make provision that is consequential on, or incidental or supplementary to, any provision of the Elections (Electoral Registers) (Jersey) Amendment Law 202-;

(b)     make transitional or saving provision in connection with the coming into force of that Law.

(5)     The power to make Regulations under paragraph (4) –

(a)     must not be exercised after the end of 31 December 2026;

(b)     includes the power to amend, repeal or modify the application of this Law or any other enactment.

(6)     Paragraphs (1) to (3) are deleted at the end of 15 March 2026.

(ab)    to create (for supply to electoral administrators) lists of registrable persons in relation to electoral districts, under Article 5E of the Elections (Jersey) Law 2002;