Island goes to the polls but most are unhappy with the system

ISLANDERS go to the polls today in a groundbreaking election.

It is the first time that 16-year-olds have had the chance to vote and an unprecedented amount of experience is being lost to retirements.

Turnout is expected to be strong because some see it as a chance to give their verdict on the outgoing House and key policy decisions such as zero-10, population, waste management and paid parking.

There are 88 candidates for 45 seats and at least 17 new faces will be elected.

But an exclusive survey for the Guernsey Press by islandopinion.com shows that most islanders are unhappy with the current voting system.

Thousands will turn out on a district basis to select 45 deputies.

But 31% are not at all satisfied with the current system and 28% are not very satisfied.

The majority, 61%, support island-wide voting for all 45 deputies, with 59% backing it for just the chief minister, 33% for the Policy Council and 30% for a new level of around 10 island-wide deputies.

Investigations are currently under way into how an island-wide poll could operate in Guernsey.

It is also an issue that was raised at hustings in the run-up to the election.

* The Island Opinion membership profile matches to a high degree of accuracy Guernsey’s population in terms of male/female split, economically active/non-active, parish of residence and average age.