1695 Legislative Assembly Elections (SSI)
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| Date: | 25-04-1695 | |||
| Constituencies: | Joseph Town, Zuid-Richel, The Camp | |||
| Votes cast: | 9,012 | |||
| Registered voters: | 9,752 | |||
| Voter turnout: | 92.41% | |||
| Result: | 25 MLAs elected | |||
The 1695 Legislative Assembly Elections were held in the South Sea Islands to determine the composition of the Legislative Assembly.
Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are elected for four year terms using the Single Transferable Vote system; all candidates stand as independents in line with the conventional ban on political parties. All South Sea Islands citizens and permanent residents aged 16 or older are eligible to vote, with the exception of those serving custodial prison sentences.
Following low turnout in The Camp constituency during the 1691 Legislative Assembly Elections (SSI), the government increased the number of polling places in rural areas, made public transport free on the day of the vote, and ran a prominent campaign encouraging voter registration and participation. The result was an increase in the number of registered voters from 7,710 to 9,752 and an increase in turnout from 89.27% to 92.41%. The turnout was particularly notable in The Camp, where 97% of registered voters turned out to cast their ballot.
Controversies
The involvement of the South Sea Islands Defence Force in the Warring Islands Conflict dominated much of the election campaign, with a significant number of candidates demanding the withdrawal of the defence forces. Despite this, the majority of sitting MLAs retained their seats with a pledge to continue the deployment for a further 18 months. One vocal critic of the deployment, Hans van Hell, topped the poll in Zuid-Richel having never stood for public office before.
Additionally, with free public transport being provided on the day of the vote, a broad consensus was formed in favour of making public transport free on a permanent basis, although the policy received significantly less support in The Camp where public transport links are scarce.
In the run up the day of the vote, a grassroots campaign in favour of building a monumental obelisk in Port Egmont, in time for the 200th anniversary of the settlement's establishment, gained the support of a number of candidates.
Results
With all 25 seats contested and a turnout of 92.41%, the elections were broadly viewed as a success and the improved access to voting places in rural areas was widely praised.
Joseph Town
The returning officer for the 1695 Legislative Assembly Elections (Joseph Town constituency) gave notice that the number of votes recorded for each candidate at the said election was as follows:
- Jayce Bain: 190
- Sila Carter: 321 (elected)
- Linton Holt: 187
- Rupert Shannon: 430 (elected)
- Kristián Tomov: 310 (elected)
- Dainton Nunez: 86
- Padraig Payne: 390 (elected)
- Sulayman Daniel: 90
- Sian Dillon: 210 (elected)
For the Joseph Town Constituency; Sila Carter, Rupert Shannon, Kristián Tomov, Padraig Payne and Sian Dillon were therefore duly elected.
Zuid-Richel
The returning officer for the 1695 Legislative Assembly Elections (Zuid-Richel constituency) gave notice that the number of votes recorded for each candidate at the said election was as follows:
- Hans van Hell: 404 (elected)
- Alexandru Mackay: 387 (elected)
- Mischa Blankenship: 323 (elected)
- Kester Senior: 258
- Wietse van Leeuw: 350 (elected)
- Ewald Lee: 70
- Kaila Greer: 41
- Dahlia Parkinson: 390 (elected)
- Darrel Dorsey: 340 (elected)
- Mekhi Milner: 100
- Gerry Glover: 89
- Evelina Attwood: 54
- Akshay Trevino: 372 (elected)
- Hans Jansen: 8
- Sietse Grunneger: 310 (elected)
- Reuben Searle: 59
- Amiee Tang: 17
- Aneesa Hayden: 121
- Cameron Pham: 74
- Mallory Field: 16
- Emily-Jane Rudd: 8
- Eleanor Ferguson: 111
- Rhea Baas: 311 (elected)
- Diana Newman: 25
- Benj van den Berg: 340 (elected)
For the Zuid-Richel Constituency; Hans van Hell, Alexandru Mackay, Mischa Blankenship, Wietse van Leeuw, Dahlia Parkinson, Darrel Dorsey, Akshay Trevino, Sietse Grunneger, Rhea Baas and Benj van den Berg were therefore duly elected.
The Camp
The returning officer for the 1695 Legislative Assembly Elections (The Camp constituency) gave notice that the number of votes recorded for each candidate at the said election was as follows:
- Aurelia Koch: 250 (elected)
- Jillian Obrien: 15
- Ruud Moon: 189 (elected)
- Rosalie Iles: 271 (elected)
- Martha Edwards: 158 (elected)
- Ella-Grace O'Doherty: 225 (elected)
- Laura Speight: 210 (elected)
- Alessio Chambers: 199 (elected)
- Mairead Brock: 56
- Arno Jernigan: 217 (elected)
- Arwen Ford: 230 (elected)
- Orlando Beltran: 200 (elected)
For the The Camp Constituency; Aurelia Koch, Ruud Moon, Rosalie Iles, Martha Edwards, Ella-Grace O'Doherty, Laura Speight, Alessio Chambers, Arno Jernigan, Arwen Ford and Orlando Beltran were therefore duly elected.
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Although no formal rule or law exists governing the constituency of the Speaker, recent convention has dictated that each constituency takes a turn having the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly elected from among their MLAs. Traditionally the speaker stands unopposed and receives the unanimous support of the Legislative Assembly, although that has not always been the case.
Following the 1691 Legislative Assembly elections, Wietse van Leeuw of Zuid-Richel constituency was elected unopposed.
