Ramsey commissioners investigate ways to boost voter turnout

New policy prepared for future by-elections

Ramsey Town Commissioners are investigating ways to boost involvement in by-elections and ensure ratepayers use their vote.

The local authority's officers were asked by the Commission to produce a report on the issue of engagement, after a poor turnout in a recent contest.

A new policy document is being prepared to help guide the authority through future by-elections and ensure they're given 'maximum publicity'.

In July, a contest was held in Ramsey where only  16% of the 5,724 people registered went to the ballot box.

Candidates found there was 'an awful lot to do' in a short time and some in the town said they didn't even release a contest was being held.

Under legislation, there's a strict 42-day time-frame for by-election, which Ramsey town clerk Peter Whiteway says did prove challenging for candidates.

Ramsey commissioner Juan McGuinness pushed strongly for the report to be produced after the low by election turnout.

Local Democracy Reporter Ewan Gawne asked him why he was keen to address the engagement problem: