Type Unicameral Seats 5 (or 7) Councillors | Administrator of Ascension Island Marc Holland | |
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The Ascension Island Council is an elected body that provides advice to the Administrator of Ascension Island on matters relating to the governance of Ascension Island. The Council is made up of either five or seven Councillors, depending on the number of candidates standing for an election, and its meetings are chaired by the Administrator. The Island's constitution requires the Governor and Administrator to consult with the Council when making laws for Ascension Island. The Governor and Administrator are not bound to accept the advice of the Council but the Council has the right to protest decisions to the British Government.
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Council members
The current council consists of five elected members known as Councillors, who were elected in September 2016.
Members of the Ascension Island Council:
With the exception of Jacqueline Rose Ellick (who was elected in a by-election on 18 November 2014 and was officially sworn in on 15 January 2015) and Marie-Anne Mabel Dennis, every other elected councillors listed above are incumbents from the previous election.
Qualifications of Councillors
Candidates must be 21 years of age, have British Citizenship, British Overseas Territory Citizenship or British Overseas Citizenship, must reside on the island and should have been resident on the island for the 12 months preceding nomination. In practice candidates will typically have been on the island for several years. They must also be on the electoral register for the island.
First Council
The first Ascension Island Council of seven members was elected and took office on 1 November 2002.
Second Council
This first Council was dissolved by order of the Governor of Saint Helena on 24 October 2005, and a new election was held on 16 November 2005, a total of 697 electors choosing between ten candidates contesting the seven seats. Six of the seven members resigned in January 2007 in the belief that they were "assisting to legitimise a democracy that doesn’t really exist on Ascension Island". Consequently, a general election was called, but by the close of nominations there were only two candidates. As a result of the boycott, the election was abandoned, and the governor suspended the Island Council for 12 months.
Third Council
Elections to the third Council were to have taken place in April 2008 but following consultations they were delayed until October 2008. With 8 nominations the elections were duly held and 7 candidates were elected to form a new Island Council, which was sworn in on 28 October.
Fourth Council
The third Council was dissolved by the Governor in October 2010 with elections planned for 3 November 2010. By close of nominations on 19 October 2010, six nominations had been received (sufficient for elections to be held for a Council of five elected members), but two of the nominations were submitted late and therefore declared invalid. The Governor was therefore obliged to suspend the Island Government Ordinance and re-schedule the elections. On 3 February 2011, it was announced that an election would be held on 25 February. On 28 February 2011, the five new council members were sworn in by the Administrator.
Fifth Council
General elections were held on 31 October 2013.
Sixth Council
The general election was held on 1 September 2016 with six candidates running for the five seats of the Island Council.