Jersey's e-petition system to be reviewed

When a petition reaches 5,000 signatures the States hold a debate on the matter

The Jersey e-petition system will be reviewed in a bid to help islanders voice their views, the chair of the Privileges and Procedures Committee says.

After discussions that took place at the end of the States meeting on Wednesday, Connétable Karen Shenton Stone said in the current system, people "can often be left disappointed" when a formal decision is not made.

At present, when a petition reaches 5,000 signatures the States holds a debate on the matter, which is where all members can speak more than once, but there is no vote taken at the end.

The chair added that she was keen to make adjustments to the format to meet the "public’s expectations".

'Litmus test'

She said: "The current system provides a great way for the public to demonstrate their support for a particular issue and provides States members with a litmus test of the strength of feeling amongst islanders on that matter."

She added "although there could be over 5,000 people who would wish for the Assembly to take a particular form of action, they can often be left disappointed that a formal decision is not made".