Assembly approves amendment to Election Act |15 June 2016

Members of the majority party in the National Assembly has unanimously approved amendments to the Elections Act to allow residents of Ile Perseverance to take part in the forthcoming National Assembly election which is expected to take place before their declared electoral area comes into operation.

The members also approved to amend section 12 of the Election Act to make it possible to hold  the same election on Ile Perseverance within a year after it has become an electoral area.

The leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Franchasca Monnaie was not present at yesterday morning’s session.

First time voters living on Ile Perseverance who have just turned 18 and whose names do not feature on the voters’ list will now have to go and register their names to vote in the district from which they originate if they want to exercise their right in the forthcoming National Assembly election.

Presenting the Bill Vice-President Danny Faure pointed out that at present it is clear to everyone that there are on Ile Perseverance two district administration offices  -- Ile Perseverance 1 and Ile Perseverance 2 -- but there is to date no electoral area.

“It is important that we do not confuse districts with electoral areas. At present there are 25 electoral areas and Ile Perseverance is not officially an electoral area until the dissolution of the Assembly,” Vice-President Faure explained.

He noted that the amendment provides the best solution to the situation on hand.

He added that this is a constitutional matter which cannot be shortcut to change  the important article 116 (5) of our Constitution.

Ile Perseverance has been declared a new electoral area under the Presidential Order S.I. 29 of 2016. However this order shall come into force on the next dissolution of the National Assembly in accordance with article 116 (5) of the Constitution and this is in October 2016.