Election process praised, but concerns remain about low voter registration and campaign rules
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's British Islands and Mediterranean Region has published its initial assessment of the electoral process.
- The 2025 Guernsey General Election was observed by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
- The election process was praised for its organisation and commitment to democratic principles.
- Voter registration was notably low, with only 52% of eligible voters registered.
- A comprehensive report with recommendations will be published in two months.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's British Islands and Mediterranean Region observed the 2025 Guernsey General Election and has published a preliminary statement with its initial assessment of the electoral process.
The Election Observation Mission commended the election for being well-organised and efficiently administered, reflecting a strong commitment to democratic principles.
The mission, which marked the second instance of island-wide voting in Guernsey, was the first in-person observation following a virtual assessment in 2020 due to pandemic restrictions. The observers included parliamentarians from Montserrat, Scotland, and St Lucia, and conducted their evaluations across the island on polling day, July 18, and during advance polling days on July 15 and 17.
The preliminary findings noted substantial progress in fostering a more inclusive political environment. A record 33% of candidates were women. Multiple opportunities for voter participation were acknowledged, with the provision of two advanced polling days along with postal voting.
Despite these positive developments, the report highlighted a concerning trend: only 52% of eligible voters registered, lower than 2020. Most registered voters were aged over 50, while those under 30 comprised the largest demographic of unregistered voters.
The final electoral roll included 27,316 people. This is a decrease of 4,000 compared to 2020 and the lowest number since 2000
“Coming from another island state, it has been fascinating to observe the democratic process in Guernsey," said Head of the Mission and President of the Senate of St Lucia, Hon. Alvina Reynolds MP.
“I have been overwhelmed by the dedication and enthusiasm of volunteers across the island. They should take great pride in the work they did to ensure a smooth, efficient and calm process for voters across the island, which this Mission commends profoundly.”
Reynolds also expressed gratitude for the disclosure during discussions with various groups on the island, particularly those representing women and youth. “While this election saw more women candidates stand than ever before, people aged under 30 represented the biggest group of unregistered voters,” she said.
The transitional phase of voting practices in Guernsey was a topic of interest throughout the observation. Although the mission did not take a stance on the reforms, it noted that the new system posed challenges for face-to-face campaigning, affecting candidate outreach to the electorate.
It said there were gaps that remained in areas such as party regulation, campaign conduct, media oversight, and electoral dispute resolution.
“In the absence of formal mechanisms to address electoral complaints, the Registrar acts as the de facto point of contact for grievances and may refer complaints to the police for further
Investigation,” it reported.
“During the 2025 election, the Registrar received a number of complaints, including reports of campaign posters being taken down or damaged, misogynistic and abusive language used by one candidate against others, and allegations of campaign overspending. According to information available to the mission, none of these cases resulted in prosecution or formal action.”
The Mission plans to release a comprehensive report containing further analysis and recommendations to strengthen Guernsey’s democratic processes within the next two months.
The full preliminary statement is available on the CPA website.
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