PPC Defend Hustings Changes

A panel of politicians say recording one husting event in the States Chamber for each of the nine constituencies for Deputies and one for each of the twelve parishes for Constables ahead of this summer's election will increase public participation.

The Privileges and Procedures Committee says the old hustings format 'is a little tired' and the rationale for the change is to broaden their reach.

Live hustings will be broadcast with the public able to submit questions in advance or in real-time.

PPC says it's especially important with the new larger constituencies, as the likelihood of candidates going door-to-door will be limited and could be seen by islanders as a Covid risk.

Deputy Jeremy Maçon has questioned whether not offering localised filming for hustings is a reduction of service to the public.

"Rather than reducing the service to the public, PPC considers this will actually extend the electorate’s access to the events, as they will be able to submit questions in advance or in real time; still participate even if they cannot attend the meeting in person and they will be able to view the webcasts live and after the event.

Candidates wishing to hold additional ‘traditional’ hustings are very welcome to do so, in fact this should be encouraged to provide further opportunities for them to engage with the electorate. We will be happy to publicise such events on vote.je and provide links to any live streams or filming undertaken.

"Hustings have always been a matter for the candidates to arrange and they are not prescribed in the Elections Law, so there would have been no provision for this matter to have been debated by the Assembly.

PPC is not stopping candidates from holding additional hustings in Parish Halls or community spaces. We want to make the events as accessible as possible and we believe that the proposed way forward will only increase public engagement in the hustings process."

Whilst admitting the change will lead to savings, the committee insists the change was motivated by a desire to increase public participation in hustings.

"Vote.je started filming hustings in 2014 – prior to this date the public either attended hustings in person, or relied upon media reports of the events afterwards. In 2014 and 2018 each hustings meeting was filmed by an external provider and then uploaded onto vote.je the next day. This was at considerable cost as a professional camera person had to be employed to undertake the filming, dedicated individual microphones had to be used to ensure the sound quality was sufficient and the events had to be edited and uploaded the day after the event.

Basing the online hustings in the Chamber, using the existing web casting equipment, will result in a considerable cost saving, allowing the vote.je team additional resources with which to promote and publicise the importance of registration and voting."

Those who want to vote in June's general election have until Tuesday 10 May to register.

The election is on Wednesday 22 June.