Guernsey petition site launched to force deputies’ public responses

Josh Le Moignan has created voiced.gg, a petition website for Guernsey designed to require States deputies to be emailed and publicly post responses when petitions reach predefined milestones, the developer said.

Le Moignan said he built the site after seeing Jersey’s e-petition system, and set an initial milestone of 1,000 signatures. When a petition crosses that threshold, the system automatically emails every deputy and provides a special reply address so responses can be publicly posted.

He described the absence of similar legislation in Guernsey as an “insult to democracy,” and said the platform aims to give the island’s public a direct tool to seek official replies or debates.

The BBC has asked the States of Guernsey for comment.

The UK and Jersey already operate e-petition systems. The UK’s current system, launched in 2015, triggers a government response at 10,000 signatures and a possible debate at 100,000. Jersey introduced e-petitions in 2018, with 1,000 signatures prompting a ministerial response and 5,000 signatures activating a debate in the States Chamber.

William Millow, Deputy Greffier at the States of Jersey, said some members and petitioners have criticised that reaching 5,000 signatures leads only to an in-committee debate rather than a full debated proposition with a vote.

Sophie Dorfner of the Vape Bar said her petition opposing rules banning under-18s from premises and requiring vapes to be covered gathered more than 1,400 signatures, but did not change the policy. She said complaints and earlier approaches had no impact and formal responses were limited or templated.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The site mirrors features in existing UK and Jersey e-petition systems by setting clear numerical milestones for official responses and by ensuring replies are publicly posted. The developer frames the platform as a democratic tool aimed at prompting official engagement when public support meets the set threshold.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• Voiced.gg is a new petition platform for Guernsey that emails deputies when petitions reach milestones.
• The initial milestone is set at 1,000 signatures, with responses publicly posted via a special reply address.
• UK and Jersey have established e-petition systems with defined signature thresholds for responses and debates.