After the polls open at 8 am there will be a 12-hour window of opportunity for the electorate to do its civic duty and, more importantly, help to define the future shape of government.
Before the advent of ministerial government, Senatorial elections had some bearing on the power structure of the States because there was at least a presumption that Senators were prime candidates for committee chairmanship. With influence now concentrated in the hands of a relatively small executive which is likely to be composed chiefly of those selected for Senatorial office, votes now matter more than ever before.
Of course, with 21 names on tomorrow’s ballot paper, selecting the best six candidates will not necessarily be easy. The task, moreover, has not been simplified by the travelling circus of the hustings. Those offering themselves for election have undoubtedly demonstrated powers of endurance, but unwieldy proceedings – with short speeches and little opportunity for rigorous questioning – have cast too little light on what they really stand for or on their suitability for high office.
That said, candidates’ declared or otherwise obvious allegiances will help some of the electorate to decide where their votes should go. In addition, few would complain that there is insufficient candidate choice in terms of anything ranging from age to political alignment on the left-right spectrum.
There is also real choice between those with long experience of political life in the Island and new brooms whose agenda includes sweeping away much of the recent political past.
It has been said many times that this year’s elections are the most important for at least half a century. This statement might be well on the way to achieving the status of a platitude, but it is increasingly difficult to argue with the conclusion.
With this and the fundamental principles of democracy in mind, a major effort has been made to encourage Islanders to register to vote. If, collectively, we have any desire for representative government, that effort must be rewarded by a mass turnout at the polls.
