2016 House of Keys General Election Guide
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Election supplement:Layout 1 26/08/2016 16:26 Page 1 Voting HOUSE OF KEYS guide GENERAL ELECTION Thursday 22 September 2016 YOUR GUIDE TO VOTING INSIDE Your vote can make a difference Guidance on how to cast an advance or proxy vote Constituency map for the 2016 House of Keys election All the official Notices of Polls Published by the Cabinet Office, Isle of Man Government, Government Office, Douglas, IM1 3PN. Printed by Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd, Peel Road, Douglas, IM1 5PZ Election supplement:Layout 1 26/08/2016 16:26 Page 2 2016 HOUSE OF KEYS GENERAL ELECTION SUPPLEMENT Your vote can make a difference n Thursday 22 September this year voters health and education. will go to the polls for the 2016 House of The election is your chance to choose the men and O Keys general election. women who will lead our Island over the next five years. The election will see 24 Members of the House of In small constituencies like those of the Isle of Man Keys – MHKs – returned from twelve two-seat individual votes can make a real difference - the outcome constituencies. of a House of Keys by-election in 2015 was decided by The House of Keys is the predominant branch of the only three votes! Manx parliament, Tynwald, which makes laws for the Elections are the cornerstone of democracy and in Island and agrees how public funds should be raised and casting your vote you are exercising a fundamental right spent. that people have struggled to achieve and died to MHKs decide on issues that affect everyone’s lives, defend. including the economy and job opportunities, taxation Your vote will help to shape the future of the Isle of and spending on a range of important services such as Man. More information on Boundary changes to provide Useful contacts display at exhibition Crown and Elections Unit Cabinet Office Curious about what’s happening in equality of representation Third Floor Manx politics this September? Government Office Bucks Road Then head to the Tynwald Library where the Crown and Elections Unit and the There have been changes to Douglas House of Keys House of Keys constituencies for IM1 3PN Tynwald Library staff have worked together the 2016 House of Keys General Election to produce an exhibition telling you constituencies since the last Website: general election in 2011. everything you need to know about the 22 www.gov.im/elections September House of Keys General Election. All constituencies now Ayre and Tel: (01624) 685211 have two Members each, to Michael Ramsey The exhibition will run until Election Day Email: [email protected] and is open to the public from 9.30am until provide equality of 5.00pm Monday to Friday. representation by giving everyone the same number Electoral Registration Unit Free tours of Tynwald are also available of MHKs working on their Cabinet Office and cover the history and workings of the Garff behalf. Island’s Parliament. Tours run on Monday Third Floor afternoons at 2.00pm and Friday mornings Some boundaries have Glenfaba Government Office and Peel at 10.00am and last approximately an hour been adjusted to make this Bucks Road and a half. change, and to create Middle Douglas roughly similar population Douglas More information about tours of IM1 3PN sizes in each constituency. North Onchan Tynwald can be found online at Abory, Website: Previously the Island had Castletown Tynwald.org.im or by calling 685520. Douglas Rushen and Malew a mixture of one, two and Douglas East www.gov.im/elections three-seat constituencies South Tel: (01624) 685754 Douglas which varied considerably in Central Email: [email protected] Visit www.gov.im/elections size of population. Election supplement:Layout 1 26/08/2016 16:26 Page 3 2016 HOUSE OF KEYS GENERAL ELECTION SUPPLEMENT What to do if How to cast your you cannot vote in person Guidance on different ways to take part in the General Election egistered voters unable to vote in person at a polling station in R the House of Keys General Election on the 22 September can apply for an advance vote. Advance votes enable electors to cast their votes before polling day, at a time and venue agreed with the constituency returning officer. This can be done on or off Island, provided it is within the British Islands (United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Crown Dependencies). Advance votes should not be confused with proxy votes, where a voter appoints someone else – a proxy – to vote on their behalf. Applications for the appointment of a proxy will only be accepted if the person is unable to vote in person on polling day and also unable to cast a vote as an advance voter. Advance and proxy vote application forms are available online at www.gov.im/elections, from constituency returning officers or from the Cabinet Office, 3rd Floor, Government Office, Bucks Road, Douglas. Completed application forms for advance votes should be forwarded to returning officers: • By Friday 16 September 2016 for voters who wish to cast an advance vote within the Isle of Man; First, are you • By Monday 12 September 2016 for Three ways of voting voters who wish to cast an advance vote elsewhere within the British Islands. registered? There are three methods of voting in Students who are registered to vote but the House of Keys general election: who will be off Island on polling day may apply to cast an advance vote. he law says your name has to be on 1. place your vote at a Polling Station Those at university/college in the British the Island’s electoral register before Islands may choose to have a ballot paper T you can vote in an election for the 2. apply for an Advance Vote delivered to the term time address and House of Keys. 3. apply for the appointment of a Proxy arrange to vote in the presence of a certified There is a cut-off point for registration member of the faculty or university/college applications prior to polling day, and forms who will be able to vote on your behalf administrative staff. submitted after September 1 will be too late to Applications for the appointment of a allow voting in the forthcoming general election proxy must be received by the Electoral on 22 September. Registration Officer on or before Friday 16 To check if you are registered you can view September 2016. the full electoral register at these locations: location of your polling station, where you can • Local Authority offices Voting on cast your vote on 22 September. • General Registry (IOM Courts of Justice, If you have not been able to find the location Tactile voting Deemsters Walk, Douglas) of your polling station, you should contact the • Crown and Elections Unit (Cabinet Office, Election Day returning officer for your constituency who will The Isle of Man Government has worked to 3rd Floor, Government Office, Bucks Road, advise you. make this General Election more inclusive. Douglas) If you are registered to vote but have not Working in partnership with the Manx The Notices of Poll appearing in this • Tynwald Library (Legislative Buildings, received your polling card you are still entitled to Blind Welfare Society the Crown and Finch Road, Douglas). supplement will give you the location of vote. Elections Unit has provided each polling the polling stations in your area. For more information regarding the electoral Polling stations are open between the hours station with a tactile voting device which will register call: +44 1624 685754 or email: The polling card you should receive in the of 8:00am and 8:00pm. enable partially sighted electors to vote in the [email protected] week before the election will give you the House of Keys General Election. You only have to share information with official polling station staff Those planning to vote at a polling station in individuals may ask you for your electoral voted for in order to seek to predict the result or media representatives. If you are unhappy the 22 September House of Keys General registration number in order to establish who of the election. with the actions of these agents, please advise Election are being reminded that they do not has been to vote. It is important to remember that they are your polling station’s Presiding Officer or have to provide information to anyone other Representatives from media organisations not polling station staff and you have the right constituency Returning Officer. than official polling station staff on polling day. may also be present at the polling station. to refuse to answer their questions. Further election guidance can be found at Candidates may appoint supporters to work These individuals are not associated with Remember, your vote is your own. You do www.gov.im/elections, or by contacting on their behalf at polling stations. These candidates but may ask you who you have not have to give any information to supporters [email protected] or telephoning 685754. Election supplement:Layout 1 26/08/2016 16:26 Page 4 2016 HOUSE OF KEYS GENERAL ELECTION SUPPLEMENT House of Keys constituencies for the 2016 General Election Online mapping service If you are unsure of your constituency, you may wish to use our online mapping service at www.gov.im/maps/ This service will provide you with information regarding your local authority, House of Keys constituency and polling districts. Helpful hints Type your postcode into the search bar (if you don't know your postcode, you can still manually search for your property). Once you have found your property use the ‘Local Information’ icon [i] and select: ‘My Constituency’ from the menu list.