Nine international observers from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association will be coming to the island to independently scrutinise this month’s general election for the first time.

One observer from the UK’s Electoral Commission will also be attending the election on September 23.

The EC has scrutinised Manx elections in the past, but this is understood to be the first election to receive oversight from international CPA observers.

The CPA parliamentarians will wear high-vis jackets and watch the vote counting on polling day, and then go on to produce a report with its findings and recommendations.

They are expected to arrive in the island around two weeks before polling day, set up an office and conduct interviews with election officers, candidates, voters, returning officers and the media.

Plans for the CPA team’s visit go back to a Tynwald motion introduced by Garff MHK Martyn Perkins in April.

The estimated cost of the CPA mission to the Manx government will be £40,000.

The CPA has conducted observation missions in Jersey in 2018, and virtually (because of the pandemic) in Jersey last year.

Head of the mission Stewart Dickson told BBC news that ’public confidence in the contest is really important’ and how he hoped that the delegation’s involvement will spark greater interest in the election.

In addition to Mr Stewart there will also be two election analysts , three observers from other CPA nations, and two members of CPA staff.

The government said: ’Ensuring that elections are properly administered is vital in maintaining the public’s confidence in the democratic process and in protecting the Isle of Man’s international reputation.’ It would also help ensure the electoral process complied with international standards, it said.