MANDATORY VOTING

We have seen just 27,000 out of an eligible 52,000 islanders register to vote. Inevitably, not everyone who registered will end up casting a vote.

It is difficult to argue the next States will have a credible mandate to govern with so many islanders disengaged from the democratic process. I will therefore support the introduction of mandatory voting in Guernsey general elections.

Mandatory voting is widely considered to be successful in countries like Australia. I believe it could bring the following benefits:

1. Give the States a stronger mandate to govern.

2. Ensure results of our elections reflect a broad cross-section of our population.

3. Reduce "extreme" or hyper-partisan politics. When everyone votes, politicians have an incentive to appeal to the centre and not to more extreme ends of the political spectrum.

4. The States would save money on its 'Register to Vote' campaigns at each election.

5. As voter turnout would be largely predictable, elections could be run more efficiently and cost-effectively.