Incoming States 'refreshing', say voters

Millie (left) and Rosie (right) voted for the first time at last week's general election

Voters have told the BBC they are "pleased" with the number of women elected to Guernsey's States.

First-time voter in last week's general election, Rosie De Carteret, said she focused on candidates with environmental policies and was "very happy" to see some of her picks elected.

"I was looking for deputies who were interested in climate action, so tidal energy, wind energy and things like that, and I quite liked the Forward Guernsey people because of that and lots of them got in."

Millie Vaudin wanted to see more younger candidates and women elected because she believed "it would be good for government".

"Not all of them, because some of them I didn't agree with their policies, but if they were younger and a woman and they had the policies I wanted, I wanted them," she said.

Photographer Rod Ferbrache was happy that 75% of the candidates he voted for were successful, and said the next government would "be an interesting States".

"I'm looking for somebody that's actually going to do what they said on their manifesto and carry it through."

Rod said he was pleased with the make up of the next States

Another man said he was pleased most of his 30 choices had been elected, and that more women had got in.

"I think it's quite refreshing, we've got some good new people and I think it's great we got lots of ladies doing well, so I'm very pleased about that," he said.

Environmental campaigner Rosie Dorey was "very pleased" four out of the top 10 candidates were women: "That's just a real endorsement of women and the strong policies that they tend to follow.

"I think it's indicative of the fact that people really want to see a States that is cohesive and collaborative in the way that they work, and those four women are all known for working together."

'Seems broken'

Another man at Guernsey's Bathing Pools said he was encouraged, with "rational minds" being chosen, but he criticised the number of candidates voters had to consider and the "low number" of people who had signed up to vote.

"It's a lot for people to read.

"Finishing a busy day, people are going to be tired, they're not going to have time, people with families especially, to get through that many manifestos," he said.

"I was also shocked with the amount of people who registered to vote, it seems broken in a way with only 19,000 people voting.

"Something seems to be missing here."