Sorry - But I think a lot of contributors to this thread just haven’t thought about what they’re saying.
We are governed by a legislature. It takes decisions – makes laws, enacts policies – which affect every last one of us living in Jersey.
All 53 elected members contribute to that process.
Therefore all 53 seats should be regarded as fair game to any person who wishes to contest them.
Think about it; by endorsing a view which says you can only run for election in the area you live in – you’re greatly restricting democracy, providing an artificial degree of protection to elected members – and most significantly you would actually be depriving the voters of that district of a full choice.
Suppose it’s a small country parish. Suppose there are just two of the usual suspects standing – identikit country parish candidate clichés. Imagine you’re a voter living in that parish; you don’t want either of these two clowns; you want Joe Smith to contest the seat, because his views far more closely match yours. But he happens to live in a different parish.
If you’ve restricted who can stand where – your man, Joe Smith, wouldn’t be able to run – and you would be deprived of the opportunity to vote for a candidate you actually agreed with.
Personally, I don’t think there is any getting away from the principle that, in a democracy, all seats should be open to be contested by whoever wants to seek election.
There is a restriction at work in Jersey – namely that on the ability to contest the position of Constable. With the exception of St. Helier (I think) you have to be resident in the parish should you wish to seek election as Constable. This state of affairs is utter nonsense and it should be de-restricted.
Democracy must equal maximum range of choice for the voting public. Artificial barriers to candidacy restrict that choice.
Stuart.
