Elections (Jersey) Amendment Law 2025

Elections (Jersey) Amendment Law 2025 Contents Article Part 1 3 Elections (Jersey) Law 2002 amended 3 1 Elections (Jersey) Law 2002 amended . 3 2 Article 1 (interpretation) amended . 3 3 Article 4 (disqualification of certain offenders) deleted and Articles 4A and 5 amended . 3 4 Article 5 (entitlement to be registered) amended . 4 5 Article 17 (order for election) amended . 4 6 Article 17D (nomination forms: content) amended . 4 7 Article 17IA (hustings) inserted . 4 8 Article 19 (holding of nomination meeting) amended . 5 9 Article 22 (announcement of the poll) amended . 5 10 Article 24 (ballot papers) amended . 5 11 Article 26 (polling stations) amended . 5 12 Article 26A (candidate information document) amended . 5 13 Article 32 (giving ballot paper to elector) amended . 6 14 Article 35 (measures to assist voting by certain persons who are ill, disabled etc.) amended 6 15 Article 36 (spoilt ballot papers) amended . 6 16 Article 42 (procedure for pre-poll voting) amended . 6 17 Article 42A (arrangements for postal voting) amended . 7 18 Article 43 (application to postal vote) amended . 7 19 Article 48 (procedures at polling station after close of the poll) amended . 7 20 Article 51 (invalid ballot papers) amended . 7 21 Article 52A (result in public elections or parish elections) amended . 8 22 Article 53 (completion of return and delivery of papers) amended . 8 Part 2 8 Elections (Jersey) Regulations 2002 amended 8 23 Elections (Jersey) Regulations 2002 amended . 8 24 Article 2 (prescribed forms) amended . 8 25 Schedule (forms) amended . 8 Part 3 8 Political Parties (Registration) (Jersey) Law 2008 amended 8 26 Political Parties (Registration) (Jersey) Law 2008 amended . 8 27 Article 10 (removal from the register) amended . 8 Part 4 9 Citation and commencement 9 28 Citation and commencement 9 Elections (Jersey) Amendment Law 2025 A LAW to amend the Elections (Jersey) Law 2002 , the Elections (Jersey) Regulations 2002 and the Political Parties (Registration) (Jersey) Law 2008 . Adopted by the States 25 June 2025 Sanctioned by Order of His Majesty in Council 15 October 2025 Registered by the Royal Court 23 October 2025 Coming into force in accordance with Article 28 THE STATES , subject to the sanction of His Most Excellent Majesty in Council, have adopted the following Law – Part 1 Elections (Jersey) Law 2002 amended 1 Elections (Jersey) Law 2002 amended This Part amends the Elections (Jersey) Law 2002 . 2 Article 1 (interpretation) amended ( 1 ) This Article amends Article 1. ( 2 ) After the definition “ Adjoint ” there is inserted – “ annulled ballot paper ” has the meaning given in Article 36(2); ( 3 ) After the definition “electoral register in force for an election” there is substituted – “ invalid ”, in relation to a ballot paper, means invalid on any of the grounds listed in Article 51(1); ( 4 ) The definition “spoilt ballot paper” is deleted. 3 Article 4 (disqualification of certain offenders) deleted and Articles 4A and 5 amended ( 1 ) Article 4 is deleted. ( 2 ) In the heading to Article 4A, “not disqualified under Article 4” is deleted. ( 3 ) For Article 4A(1) there is substituted – ( 1 ) This Article applies to a person who – ( a ) is detained in prison (whether following conviction or otherwise); and ( b ) is entitled to vote in a public or parish election. ( 4 ) In Article 4A, after paragraph (3) there is inserted – ( 4 ) In this Article, “prison” has the same meaning as in the Prison (Jersey) Law 1957 (see Article 1(1) of that Law). ( 5 ) Article 5(3)(b) is deleted. 4 Article 5 (entitlement to be registered) amended (1) This Article amends Article 5. (2) In paragraph (1)(c)(i), for “2 years” there is substituted “1 year”. (3) In paragraph (3)(a), for “becomes resident” there is substituted “becomes ordinarily resident”. 5 Article 17 (order for election) amended In Article 17, after paragraph (2AA) there is inserted – ( 2AB ) In the case of an order in respect of an election under Article 13 of the States of Jersey Law 2005 (casual vacancy in office of Deputy) or Article 3 of the Connétables (Jersey) Law 2008 (casual vacancy in office of Connétable), the date fixed under paragraph (2)(c) must be as early as is reasonably practicable and, in any event, within the period of 14 days beginning with the day of the election. 6 Article 17D (nomination forms: content) amended In Article 17D(3), for “Article 17H(3)(a)” there is substituted “Articles 17H(3)(a) and 22(3)(c)”. 7 Article 17IA (hustings) inserted After Article 17I there is inserted – 17IA Hustings ( 1 ) This Article applies in relation to a public election for the office of Deputy or Connétable in a constituency. ( 2 ) The JEA must arrange a meeting, in each relevant parish in relation to the constituency, at which each person nominated as a candidate for the election may address members of the public. ( 3 ) Each meeting must be held – ( a ) after the candidate announcement in relation to the election is published under Article 17H(1); and ( b ) at least 3 days before the day of the poll for the election. ( 4 ) The JEA must, during the nomination period in relation to the election – ( a ) determine the date and location of each meeting; and ( b ) take the steps that it considers appropriate for bringing the date and location of each meeting to the attention of the public. ( 5 ) In this Article, “relevant parish”, in relation to a constituency, means a parish that alone, with other parishes, or in part, comprises the constituency. 8 Article 19 (holding of nomination meeting) amended In Article 19(4)(a) and (b), “(not counting any Sunday)” is deleted. 9 Article 22 (announcement of the poll) amended In Article 22(2)(a) and (b), “(not counting any Sunday)” is deleted. 10 Article 24 (ballot papers) amended For Article 24(3C)(c) there is substituted – ( c ) comply with other requirements, if any, as to content (which may include requirements to show photographs of candidates) specified by the JEA; and ( d ) be in the form specified by the JEA. 11 Article 26 (polling stations) amended For Article 26(1) there is substituted – ( 1 ) For the conduct of a poll, the electoral administrator for the parish where the poll is held must provide 1 or more polling stations – ( a ) in the case of a parish election, in such a way that the Autorisé is satisfied that all persons have reasonable facilities for the exercise of their right to vote; and ( b ) in the case of a public election, in such a way that the JEA, having consulted with the Autorisé , is satisfied that all persons have reasonable facilities for the exercise of their right to vote. 12 Article 26A (candidate information document) amended For Article 26A(3) there is substituted – ( 3 ) The Autorisé or Adjoint supervising a polling station must – ( a ) ensure that a copy of the document prepared under this Article is made available (in the booth or otherwise) to each person attending a polling station; and ( b ) take the steps that the Autorisé or Adjoint considers appropriate for making the information contained in the document accessible to all persons. 13 Article 32 (giving ballot paper to elector) amended ( 1 ) This Article amends Article 32. ( 2 ) In paragraph (A1), “or (2A)” is deleted. ( 3 ) For paragraph (1) there is substituted – ( 1 ) For each poll being taken for a public election or parish election, the Autorisé (or Adjoint ) in charge of a polling station must give a ballot paper to each person who satisfies the Autorisé (or Adjoint ) that they are entitled to vote there. ( 4 ) Paragraphs (2A) and (2B) are deleted. 14 Article 35 (measures to assist voting by certain persons who are ill, disabled etc.) amended For Article 35(1) there is substituted – ( 1 ) An Autorisé or Adjoint may take the measures that they consider appropriate for taking a person’s vote in a public or parish election if – ( a ) the person is entitled to vote in that election; ( b ) the person is (apart from this paragraph) unable to cast their vote because they are – ( i ) ill, disabled, illiterate or in custody; or ( ii ) the carer of a person who is ill or disabled; and ( c ) in the case of a public election, the Autorisé or Adjoint considers that – ( i ) applying for a postal vote under Article 43 would not have resolved the person’s inability to cast their vote; ( ii ) the person could not reasonably have been expected to apply for a postal vote; or ( iii ) the person could not reasonably have foreseen that they would be unable to cast their vote. 15 Article 36 (spoilt ballot papers) amended ( 1 ) This Article amends Article 36. ( 2 ) In the heading, for “Spoilt” there is substituted “Annulled”. ( 3 ) In paragraph (2), for “spoilt” there is substituted “annulled”. 16 Article 42 (procedure for pre-poll voting) amended ( 1 ) This Article amends Article 42. ( 2 ) In paragraph (1B), “or (5)” is deleted. ( 3 ) In paragraph (2) – ( a ) “If only one poll for a public election is being taken in an electoral district,” is deleted; ( b ) for “that poll, shall” there is substituted “a poll for a public election, must”. ( 4 ) Paragraphs (5) to (7) are deleted. ( 5 ) For paragraph (11) there is substituted – ( 11 ) The Judicial Greffier may take the measures that they consider appropriate for taking a person’s pre-poll vote in a public election (including at locations other than those determined under Article 40B) if – ( a ) the person is entitled to vote in that election; ( b ) the person is (apart from this paragraph) unable to cast their vote because they are – ( i ) ill, disabled or illiterate; or ( ii ) the carer of a person who is ill or disabled; and ( c ) the Judicial Greffier considers that – ( i ) applying for a postal vote under Article 43 would not have resolved the person’s inability to cast their vote; ( ii ) the person could not reasonably have been expected to apply for a postal vote; or ( iii ) the person could not reasonably have foreseen that they would be unable to cast their vote. 17 Article 42A (arrangements for postal voting) amended For Article 42A(a) there is substituted – ( a ) specify, in relation to a public election – ( i ) the earliest date on which an application for a postal vote may be made (the “opening date”); and ( ii ) the latest date on which an application for a postal vote may be made (the “closing date”); 18 Article 43 (application to postal vote) amended ( 1 ) This Article amends Article 43. ( 2 ) For paragraph (1B) there is substituted – ( 1B ) Paragraph (2) applies if the Judicial Greffier receives an application for a postal vote in relation to a public election – ( a ) on or after the opening date specified under Article 42A(a)(i); and ( b ) on or before the closing date specified under Article 42A(a)(ii). ( 3 ) In paragraph (4), for “Article 42A(1)” there is substituted “Article 42A(a)(ii)”. 19 Article 48 (procedures at polling station after close of the poll) amended In Article 48(4)(b), for “spoilt” there is substituted “annulled”. 20 Article 51 (invalid ballot papers) amended In Article 51(1), for sub-paragraph (c) there is substituted – ( c ) if it is an annulled ballot paper (see Article 36); 21 Article 52A (result in public elections or parish elections) amended In Article 52A(3)(a), for “spoilt” there is substituted “invalid”. 22 Article 53 (completion of return and delivery of papers) amended For Article 53(4)(b) there is substituted – ( b ) the packages prepared in accordance with Articles 48(4)(b) and 50(2) in connection with the election (whether prepared, or received in accordance with Article 52A(2), by the principal Autorisé ). Part 2 Elections (Jersey) Regulations 2002 amended 23 Elections (Jersey) Regulations 2002 amended This Part amends the Elections (Jersey) Regulations 2002 . 24 Article 2 (prescribed forms) amended In Article 2(4), for “Article 24(3)” there is substituted “Article 24(3A)”. 25 Schedule (forms) amended In the Schedule, in Form 4 (ballot paper) – ( a ) in the heading, for “Article 24(3)” there is substituted “Article 24(3A)”; ( b ) in the last note (indicated by the § symbol), “If the parish is divided into different electoral districts, the name of the district should be inserted below the name of the parish.” is deleted. Part 3 Political Parties (Registration) (Jersey) Law 2008 amended 26 Political Parties (Registration) (Jersey) Law 2008 amended This Part amends the Political Parties (Registration) (Jersey) Law 2008 . 27 Article 10 (removal from the register) amended Article 10(3) is deleted. Part 4 Citation and commencement 28 Citation and commencement This Law may be cited as the Elections (Jersey) Amendment Law 2025 and comes into force on a day to be specified by the States by Act.