This Is Guernsey

Vale poll-topper Matt Fallaize and wife Nicci.

12.30am What a result for Matt Fallaize in the Vale and Peter Gillson in St Sampson’s, two first time candidates topping the polls. Lyndon Trott and Dave Jones both took a big hit compared to last time, a sign of some discontent with the last term. We’re seeing the other sitting deputies returned with similar votes to last time, maybe shedding a couple of hundred in the middle of the pack. Brian De Jersey is the first sitting States member to lose out.
The declarations are coming thick and fast. Charles Parkinson topped the polls in the South-East with a really strong vote and instantly declared an intention to run for Treasury minister.
Al Brouard was an expected poll topper in the West, but there were a few raised eyebrows around here with how strong David De Lisle’s vote was.
The first declaration was in the Castel, where continuity prevailed, although Bernard Flouquet was made to sweat again.

11.45pm - The night shift of sub-editors are in the office, primed and ready to start planning pages as soon as the reporters start trickling in fresh with the top news from the polling stations. They are listening to the election results as they are announced on the radio and each declaration brings with it a wave of excitement or disbelief. There is a sense of anticipation before the real work starts, when it will be all hands on deck to produce Thursday’s paper ready for a 6am print.

11pm - As the waiting goes on, here’s something to ponder.
Internet people Submarine have been asking people online to consider a virtual island-wide vote.
Those contacted were asked to select up to 20 candidates from the whole candidate cast list to give a flavour of what an island ballot might produce.
No, it’s not particularly scientific and the poll doesn’t claim to be representative – but it’s indicative.
So who is at the top?
John Gollop and Charles Parkinson in a tie.
Next up’s Geoff Mahy followed by Carla McNaulty Bauer.
The next is interesting: Treasury minister Lyndon Trott in fifth place.
Full details in tomorrow’s GP, but there will be some very pleased candidates indeed if these are reflected at district level.

7.25pm – The queue outside St Sampson’s Douzaine Room is unprecedented, stretching about 50 metres down the road. Candidates that have been stood outside for most of the day are showing signs of having caught the sun, but talk has now turned to what a strong turnout will mean when the results are read out. The Guernsey Press office is at its quietest, there is little that can be done here now until declaration time. This blog will continue as the results come in.

Young Voter Will Roberts casts his vote in the St Martin’s polling station.

5.55pm – It’s a busy time at St Martin’s Parish Hall as people head to the polls after work to vote in the South-East. The majority spoken to are happy to have a good cross section of candidates to choose from. Candidates are relaxed, knowing there is little they can do now.

5.35pm - People are queuing down the road to cast their votes at the Castel Douzaine Room.

Laura Le Maitre discovered that there was no wheelchair access to the Forest Douzaine Room.

4.55pm – Wheelchair access has been proving problematic. Reports from the Castel suggest that wheelchair users had to try to get through gravel or go around to the back door. When they did that they found it was locked. And the information posted out by the States and on its website detailing disabled access was wrong for St Sampson’s and the West.

4.10pm – Hopes are high that the good weather will mean a high turnout in the West. There has been a steady flow of voters, mostly over 40-years-old, at St Saviour’s Douzaine Room and Church Hall. Those working in the polling stations are expecting a rush after work. People spoken to by the Guernsey Press want new faces in the States because they are fed up with backbiting and bickering. One woman turned up to vote on a horse at about 2pm.

3.15pm – The first results have just been phoned in. School children at St Sampson’s Infants went to the polls this morning to decide who they would like in office. We can’t publish them in full yet, but they voted for three new faces and one of those topped the polls.
St Andrew’s Primary School have also declared their results in the South-East – they too had an even split between new candidates and sitting deputies.

3.10pm – Supplies have just arrived in the office to keep everyone going through the night. We have a fine assortment of rolls, drinks and snacks so energy levels remain high.

Francis Quin enjoys a cuppa while greeting voters at the St Martin’s Douzaine room. (Picture by Brian Green)

2.35pm – South-East update. A steady flow of electors have been casting their vote at St Andrew’s Douzaine Room since polling opened at 10am, averaging at about one per voter minute. Candidates Mike O’Hara, Francis Quin, and Lorraine Marson were at the polling station at lunch time, when the numbers of voters picked up.

2.35pm More than 400 people have already cast their vote at the Constables’ Office in St Port South.

2.25pm – Political interest starts young in the Vale. At the Douzaine Room children from Vale Junior School are grilling the candidates. It was a busy morning, but things quietened down over lunch.

Vale Junior School children find out more about the election process.

2.20pm - St Peter Port North candidates Leon Gallienne and Mike Collins have been outside the polling station at Beau Sejour all morning, with others joining them later.
A steady stream voters whose ages reflect one of the new sides to this election – voting for 16-year-olds. People casting their vote spoken to by the Guernsey Press ranged in age from 16 to 83.

2.10pm - A constant trickle of electors are heading into the Castel Douzaine Room, many saying they were voting in new blood. Concerns included sea defences and coastal erosion, as well as the facilities at Castel Hospital. Five of the candidates were standing at the door, mainly chatting to each other.

1.40pm - We have a lot of reporters out on the road at the moment getting a flavour of what is happening at the polling stations.
In the office the sub-editors are starting to map out some of the supplement we’re running tomorrow.
It’s a strange day in some ways because we still have to work on the news that’s happening outside the election as well during the day.
But there are encouraging signs about the turnout. I just spoke to someone working the checkout in Alliance who said she wasn’t going to vote, but decided this morning she would. It is a story that echoes others I’ve heard – it’s these small snippets you grab onto during the day until the true picture emerges later tonight.

St Sampson’s returning officer Steve Park.

12noon - Candidates are in good spirits outside St Sampson’s Douzaine Room, chatting with voters and sharing hot drinks and biscuits among themselves.

Brian Harris, Scott Ogier and Peter Gillson have taken the green option by riding their bikes down.

There was a steady flow of voters, with queues inside the douzaine room.

Outside they said they were looking for change, but still keen on some continuity.

Those running the polling station said the morning had been busy – by 11.10am 194 people had cast their vote.

Early voters at St Peter Port South are welcomed by candidate Tony Webber

11.40 - Business was brisk at St Peter Port South’s polling station at St Stephen’s Community Centre.

A number of the candidates were at the door greeting the electors on their arrival.

The feedback from voters, however, was that they were not using all of their allocated six votes.

09:25 - It’s finally here.

By the early hours of the morning we will know who will be in the new States, but that is a long way ahead.

Reports from St Peter Port Constable’s office suggest at slow start when the polling station opened at 8am - just five turned up.

Polling in St Peter Port North is also well underway, with another 30 or so minutes until the other distracts open their doors. With the sun shining the weather at least looks good for a strong turnout.

We know there will be at least 17 new deputies, but you can expect a couple of sitting members to be loosing their seats if past indications are anything to go by.

Look to the Vale, St Sampson’s and the West for those.

We’ve got a meeting now to brief the reporting team on tonight. Nothing quite beats the buzz of election day.

Article posted on 23rd April, 2008 - 4.00pm