THE deadline is approaching for people to submit their views on plans to redraw the island’s House of Keys boundaries to create 12 two-seat constituencies.
Responses to the Boundary Review Committee’s public consultation must be received by 5pm on Wednesday, February 20.
Maps showing the proposed electoral boundaries, along with background information and contact details, are available on the government website by {http://www.gov.im/cso/ConsultationDetail.gov?id=361|clicking here}
Feedback from the consultation will be considered by the Boundary Review Committee before it submits its final report to Tynwald.
The proposed changes are in line with a Tynwald resolution that there should be equality of representation, with the 24 House of Keys seats divided into 12 constituencies of two Members each.
At present the House of Keys has two three-seat constituencies (Rushen and Onchan), five two-seaters (the four Douglas constituencies and Ramsey), and eight one-seaters (Ayre, Castletown, Garff, Glenfaba, Michael, Peel, Malew and Santon, and Middle).
This means that some individuals have three votes each in general elections, some have two and some have only one – depending on where they live.
As well as views about the proposed boundary revision, the public consultation is also seeking suggestions regarding the names of the new constituencies.
