Election after Sunday service

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Election after
Sunday service




Extract from Philip Falle's 1734 book An account of the island of Jersey

Popular election

As Coroners (though the Name be disused) Jurats are of Popular Election. The Constitutions will have them chosen per optimates Patrice, which excludes from being Electors men of no substance or interest in the Country. I am sorry to say the Practice now-a-days runs too much to the contrary, whereby a great deal of abuse and corruption has crept into those Elections, and perhaps no evil amongst us calls louder for redress.

Always on Sundays

However it be, the manner of choosing a Jurat in Jersey is this. On the Death of any of them (and rarely otherwise than by Death does a Vacancy happen, by reason the Office is for Life) the court issnes out an Act or Writ of Election, fixing the Day, which is always a Sunday, and appointing one of their own Body, or some other proper Person, to collect in every Parish the Suffrages of the People.

The Writ is delivered to the Minister, who after Divine Service reads it from the Pulpit, and in few Words (if he sees fit) recommends to the Assembly the choice of such an one, whom, for his Knowledge and Abilities, his Integrity and love of Justice, his Zeal for the established Religion and Government, and the like, they deem most worthy, and best qnalified for the Place.

The People give their Votes one by one as they go out at the Church door, and he who has the majority throughout the Island is declared duly elected.

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