Jersey senator election candidates declared

A senator is elected to represent the whole island and not just a small district.

Eighteen people are hoping to be elected as senators in the Jersey's general election in October.

About 200 people attended St Helier Town Hall on Tuesday evening for the nomination meeting where each candidate was proposed.

There are three female and 15 male candidates with a member of the Polish community standing for the first time.

There are eight seats available, down from 10 at the last election in 2011. The election is on 15 October.

Chairing the meeting, Trinity Constable John Gallichan said the priority was to encourage people to vote.

He said: "We have to get people to turn out to vote. There is no point complaining about the people we have in power if nobody turns out to get them in."

General election

This is the island's first general election where all members are elected on the same day.

Three types of politicians make up the States of Jersey Assembly. Senators are elected to represent the whole island, deputies represent their district and constables are elected as the head of their parish and also have a seat in the States.

There will also be a referendum over whether constables should have a seat in the States as an automatic right. This will be held on the same day as the election.

A third of Jersey's politicians have been elected unopposed a month ahead of the island's first general election.

• This page was amended following the withdrawal of a 19th candidate - Shirley Baudains-Osborne withdrew on 23 September for health reasons.