he public is reminded that there is less than just two weeks left of the eight-week consultation on a Bill to update the law governing House of Keys elections, and to promote the transparency and integrity of the election process.
 
The Cabinet Office consultation on the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill was launched on April 30 and closes on Friday June 27. Comments are also welcome on detailed Representation of the People Regulations which would be made following Royal Assent for the Bill.
 
The Bill includes proposals from an independent review following the East Douglas by-election in May 2010, some of which were incorporated in previous legislation which ran out of time prior to the 2011 General Election.
 
The Bill requires candidates to declare publicly any campaign funding they receive, and to refuse donations made anonymously. It also provides for the registration of political parties intending to support or nominate candidates, and for a limit on the amount that can be spent on a candidate’s campaign (a maximum of ?2,000 plus 50p per registered elector, in the twelve months prior to an election).

The Bill replaces the term ‘absent voting’ with ‘advance voting’ to make it clearer that this option is open to any elector, regardless of their ability to attend a polling station on polling day. It restricts the availability of ‘proxy’ voting to those who cannot vote in person or by advance vote.
 
In addition the Bill extends the criteria that disqualify persons from standing for election, and provides for manifestos and election notices to be displayed on the Government website.
 
The consultation document and other documents can be found on the Isle of Man Government website at  http://tinyurl.com/ohle7dc