Manx election review body releases recommendations

The Isle of Man Electoral Commission has made 13 recommendations to improve elections

The independent body tasked with reviewing the Isle of Man's election process has made recommendations about accessibility, boundary changes and online voting.

The Isle of Man Electoral Commission has made 13 suggestions ahead of the 2026 election using views gathered from public meetings, an online consultation and Tynwald members.

The report recommended a feasibility study on e-voting and that the Ramsey constituency, as well as Glenfaba and Peel, be reduced in size following population increases in a bid to improve voter equality.

But chairman Sally Bolton said further "significant" boundary changes might be needed in future.

Ramsey's voting boundaries would change significantly if plans are backed by Tynwald

The commission recommended that the current system with twelve constituencies which elect two Members of the House of Keys (MHKs), which has been in place since 2016, should be retained.

It also found it should be a legal requirement that the maximum voter population should not be 15% above or below the average voting population of 7,005 people per constituency.

Further recommendations included an accessibility audit of polling stations after concerns were raised by Commonwealth Parliamentary Association observers in 2021.

There should also be a detailed investigation into the costs and potential benefits of online voting following advances in technology, the commission found.

As Ramsey has a voter population 19% above the average, the proposals could see hundreds of Ramsey voters moving into Ayre and Michael or Garff.

Meanwhile, the number of voters in the Glenfaba and Peel constituency is 18% above average, meaning some could move into neighbouring Middle.

Ms Bolton said the commission had sought to make sure the island "remains in line with international standards whilst keeping the overall impact on communities to a minimum".

But she added "more significant change to constituency boundaries would be needed" in future if government targets of increasing the population to 100,000 residents by 2037 were to be met.

The report's proposals are due to be debated in the March sitting of Tynwald.