WITH Guernsey at the polls today, attention is naturally turning to the results, which should be finalised early tomorrow morning.

Although public predictions are off-limits, the myriad office sweepstakes suggest that there will be a high turnout and some headline casualties as islanders vote for change and also use the ballot box to register a protest against the outgoing States.

Whether that reflects tomorrow’s reality remains to be seen but what is clear is that this is one of the most heavily politicised elections, especially given the welcome addition of Guernsey’s first cohort of 16-year-old voters.

There is also proof today of what was almost an undercurrent election issue – island-wide voting.

It is a theme that has persisted since the States decided to scrap the island franchise for conseillers after the election in 1997 and has cropped up again and again during the life of this House.

A survey commissioned by the Guernsey Press, out today, reinforces just how widespread the desire is for some form of island-wide system. A clear majority – 61% – want to be able to select all the deputies across the board.

The representative survey, which has an error level of plus or minus three per cent, also discloses that more than half of islanders are dissatisfied with the current system and wish to see it changed.

The islandopinion.com survey also indicates that islanders do not want a watered-down approach to selecting all their representatives.

Only a third would be interested in creating a conseiller-style class of 10 island-wide deputies and a 51% majority were opposed to a public franchise for selecting the Policy Council members.

However, there is also significant support for having an island-elected chief minister, with just under two-thirds backing such a move.

The research also shows that voting islanders take their electoral responsibilities seriously. A surprising 95% assess the candidates’ suitability by reading their manifesto and, in the case of sitting members, actively monitor their performance.

The survey, a mix of online and face-to-face interviews, will increase pressure on the States to look seriously at island-wide voting and indicates that it is a real issue for voters.

And what happens at the polls today will help to dictate the speed of any further changes.