Polling station flexibility in election proposals

Under current electoral procedures voters are assigned polling stations

Allowing voters to use any polling station in a constituency has been put forward as part of proposed changes to election procedures.

The Cabinet Office has drafted a raft of "updates and improvements" to national and locational elections "to address issues" identified with the Elections Act 2020.

The amendments would also see changes to the publication of declarations of interest, dealing with breaches of the peace on polling day, and removing those elected from office.

The changes stem from feedback from Commonwealth Parliamentary Association observers, who were invited to provide a report on the 2021 general election.

The aim is for the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2024 to make its way through the branches of Tynwald and become law in time for the 2026 House of Keys general election.

The proposed legislation would apply to both the House of Keys and local authority elections.

Under the changes, a voter would be able to cast their vote at any polling station in the constituency rather than just the one in their allocated district.

The amendment bill would give the Cabinet Office the power to collect and publish the declarations of interest of all candidates prior to the election itself, as well as making it an offence for those standing not to declare relevant interests.

However, it the changes would also remove the department's requirement to arrange a pre-election public meeting in each constituency, which was introduced for the 2021 election, leaving it to those in the area to arrange requisition meeting featuring all candidate themselves.

The amendments would also make clear that the requirement to arrest and detain anyone who breaches the peace during the polling proceedings would lie with the Isle of Man Constabulary, with the deputy returning officer still responsible for maintaining order.

Under the proposals, tellers would be removed from the list of people to swear an oath of secrecy prior to the poll, "so that they can lawfully perform their role".

The role involves people standing outside polling stations recording elector numbers so that likely supporters of a candidate who are yet to vote can be identified, but currently the secrecy requirement stops them passing that on to the person standing for election.

New rules regarding the investigations that could trigger the recall mechanism for an elected politician are also included, adding a condition that an investigation by a Tynwald committee would have the weight as one by the House of Keys.

Currently only a House of Keys committee investigation can trigger the mechanism.

The consultation has been made available online through the government's website, closing on January 29.