| 2012 election preparation programme outlined | | Print | |
| Written by Richard Green/richard@fptci.com | |||
| Thursday, 27 October 2011 11:45 | |||
 The governor’s office has announced details of preparations for possible 2012 elections that include revising elections ordinances relating to the conduct of political parties, elections procedures, drawing of new electoral boundaries and creating a new electoral list. A small Electoral Preparations Group including government officials, the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Governor’s Office has set up the programme and will oversee its completion within the next 12 months, according to an overview prepared by Philip Rushbrook, a U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office official working in the governor’s office. The preparation will include public consultations on all islands similar to those conducted in preparing revisions to the Constitution, a procedure expected to be complete by September 2012. One requirement is that a new ordinance be enacted to define the responsibilities and standards expected from political parties and individuals during elections and while holding public office. To help correct weaknesses identified in previous years by independent election monitors, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) was invited to conduct consultations with political parties in TCI and other stakeholders to bring procedures up to international standards. A WFD programme director, a U.K. Labour Party Minister of Parliament and a Conservative Party campaign manager will work with local politicians and other officials to help develop specifications for a new political conduct ordinance. The Electoral Reform International Society reviewed the electoral procedures in 2009 and concluded the present ordinance no longer meets international standards. The TCI Elections Office identified further changes necessary to accommodate new voting arrangements in the Constitution. Once all the changes are settled, revisions to the existing ordinance will be prepared and presented to the governor’s Advisory Council. A major part of the process includes a new census that will begin in February and will help determine the number and residency of eligible voters. Those results should be ready in April, when a three-member Electoral Boundary Commission will set new boundaries for 10 single-member districts for the House of Assembly. Another five members will run at-large countrywide. The revised Constitution which will not take effect until 30 days before elections requires the governor to appoint the chairman of the commission at his discretion, another member “from among persons who hold or have held high judicial office,” and a third member after he consults with the premier and the leader of the opposition. None of the members can be a member of the House of Assembly or a public officer. The commission will be assisted by the TCI Elections Office and members of the Association of Electoral Administration in London, and the boundaries will be approved by the governor. The current Electoral Register of those who can vote is out of date, and a new register will be prepared during the summer of 2012. One change will be defining the voting district for each voter to discontinue the practice of some voters registering in two districts. The process and timetable outlined for elections in late 2012 still depends on achieving the milestones set by U.K. ministers in December 2010: completing a new constitution; introducing new ordinances on the electoral process, integrity in public life and public financial management; establishing transparent accountability of public finances; putting the government finances on track to achieve a fiscal surplus; implementing a transparent and fair process for citizenship; pursuing civil and criminal cases identified by the 2008 Commission of Inquiry; implementing a new Crown Land policy; and progressing substantial reform of the public service. Click here to read the election preparation document in full
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