A referendum on the composition of the

Chief Pleas Sark (french: link=no, Sercq, ; Sercquiais: or ) is a part of the Channel Islands in the southwestern English Channel, off the coast of Normandy, France. It is a royal fief, which forms part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, with its own set of l ...

was held in

Sark Sark (french: link=no, Sercq, ; Sercquiais: or ) is a part of the Channel Islands in the southwestern English Channel, off the coast of Normandy, France. It is a royal fief, which forms part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, with its own set of l ...

between 16 August and 6 September 2006,Sark (Channel Islands), 6 September 2006: Composition of Parliament
Direct Democracy following an informal referendum in February. Voters were given the choice of having all 28 seats elected, or to have 12 seats for Deputies, eight for tenants and eight elected by everyone.

Background

On 8 March 2006 the Chief Pleas voted to reduce the number of seats from 52 to 28.Island cuts back feudal influence
BBC News, 8 March 2006 The proposed system at the time was for 14 seats to be reserved for landowners and 14 elected by the general population. However, in April the Seigneur Michael Beaumont warned the Pleas that this may not be approved by the

Privy Council A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...

. In July three options were put forward; electing all 28 members by

universal suffrage Universal suffrage (also called universal franchise, general suffrage, and common suffrage of the common man) gives the right to vote to all adult citizens, regardless of wealth, income, gender, social status, race, ethnicity, or political stanc ...

; having 16 members elected by the general public and 16 elected by tenants, and having 16 tenants and 16 general members all elected by universal suffrage.Meeting fails to pick reform plan
BBC News, 6 July 2006 A meeting held on 6 July was unable to make a decision due to disagreements on whether to hold a consultative referendum. However, the referendum was agreed to on 9 August.Islanders to have say on reforms
BBC News, 10 August 2006 The Pleas determined that voter turnout must be at least 60% and that a winning option must receive 54.5% of the vote.

Results

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2006 09 Sark electoral system referendum Sark electoral system referendum Sark electoral system referendum Referendums in Sark Electoral reform referendums Sark electoral system referendum Sark electoral system referendum