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Top tips for first-time election candidates

Through the ‘Plan To Stand’ campaign, Vote.je is encouraging Islanders to think about standing for election to the States Assembly by providing access to information about how to campaign, understanding what election candidates can and cannot do, and ensuring that people are prepared for the realities of working as a States Member if they are successfully elected.

If you’re gearing up to stand for election to the States Assembly in 2026 and this is set to be your first time as an election candidate, you won’t want to miss this advice from current States Members – some of whom have successfully campaigned for election multiple times.

We asked sitting Constables and Deputies what they learned through running their own election campaigns and what top tips they’d share with newcomers. Take a look at what they had to say, where they recommend election candidates focus their time and effort during the campaign period, and find out why it’s a good idea to invest in a comfy pair of shoes!

1. Seek out an experienced mentor: ‘Find somebody who has stood for election before and ask them for advice. I found that really useful, even though that person didn’t perhaps agree with all my views, it was useful to talk through the stances that I was taking, as well as just to understand a bit more about how campaigning worked.’

2. Take action early: ‘Start early, submit your paperwork and go straight to knocking on doors. There’s no substitute for knocking on the doors and meeting people and speaking with people. You learn so much from your prospective constituents by doing this – I found it so useful.’

3. Plan your campaign: ‘Don’t underestimate how much work it is, because some parishes can be a big spread-out area so have some kind of schedule and prepare to get your good walking shoes on. It really is just a case of knocking on the door and when someone comes out, introduce yourself and ask if there’s anything they want to talk about and if someone says ‘no’, accept it and go away. People were generally very, very nice on the doorstep.’

4. Start now on your manifesto: ‘You have to have your manifesto ready. You have to have an idea about what you think, what matters to you and what you’re particularly focused on if people say, ‘well, what are you going to do that’s different?’ And putting that together does take some time. Preparation is really key.’

5. Expect to be in demand: ‘There were a lot of events I was expected to attend that I wouldn’t have expected, lots of hustings and emails with people asking questions. The campaign period was very busy and it feels like a bit of a whirlwind, but it’s very exciting.’

6. Get out there and meet people: ‘I went round to every property in the Parish, knocked on the door and hand-delivered my manifesto. It took a good couple of weeks, but it was great fun. I met such a lot of interesting people, and it helped them put a face to me as well, so that if I was elected I wanted them to feel comfortable to be able to phone me or talk to me when I’m out and about in the Parish, which happens all the time.’

7. Focus on finding support and winning people’s votes: ‘In my view, canvassing and knocking on doors in your constituency is the most important thing. It’s easy to get distracted by invitations to make an appearance at events that have nothing to do with the constituency. The more time you can spend canvassing in your constituency, the more voter support you’re likely to gain.’

8. Prepare and practise: ‘The most difficult thing for me – and it wouldn’t be the same with everybody – was to come up with ‘soundbites’ to say things succinctly in a really short time. You get asked to do one minute clips where you’re introducing yourself to the public and you’re trying to say what you stand for and pack all that into a minute. Be ready for that and start practising now!’

9. Get some comfortable shoes: ‘You’ll be on your feet a lot! Election candidates should be prepared to walk and get around your parish or constituency. Knock on doors and speak to people.’

10. Listen to voters: ‘It’s really important to understand the current politics in the Island, because every time you engage with a voter, you will be talking about whatever issue is relevant to that particular person. And make sure you have an awareness of your own opinion, because that’s what people want to see – that you are going to take forward their needs.’

11. Take part in hustings: ‘There is a plethora of hustings that are arranged. Some of them are recorded and put online on Vote.je. Some of them are a bit more ad hoc and can take up a lot of your time. I think what I would do going forward is focus on my areas of specialism.’ 

12. Know your limits: ‘Try not to do too much because it can be exhausting. Two hours of walking around and talking to people is quite tiring. So make sure you do have some breaks. I think having a leaflet that you can give people is really helpful.’

13. You don’t need to have all the answers: ‘I think one of the first hustings I went to, my first question I had no idea what they were talking about, so somebody explained it. I think if you don’t know the answer to the question, it’s better to say you don’t know the answer rather than just waffle it.’

14. Authenticity is essential: ‘Be yourself, be transparent and let the public see exactly who you are because that’s what they need to vote on. If you try to be something that you’re not it could be detrimental to you.’

15. Make connections – build relationships: ‘I would first of all say to people,  find out how to connect with your community and how to secure their confidence, to see whether or not that relationship will work and you can fulfil your responsibilities to them. Be really clear about your message, and to connect with people who have a similar message as you so that you get that support around you and you don’t feel, as though you’re on your own.’

16. Research the campaign practicalities: ‘Think about what you need to get done, like where to get posters, what do you want to say and how do you go out and communicate that? I would talk to people who’ve run campaigns, who have actually been there and done this role previously to try and get some sense about what’s important to establishing yourself.’

17. Don’t shy away from asking for advice: ‘I would suggest they contact current or past States Members and ask for advice – how does it work? What’s it like? I was lucky because I’m part of a group, so I already knew some Deputies. And also don’t hold back from getting advice from the States Greffe.’

18. Feel the fear and do it anyway: ‘Those first times you do knock on doors are really very daunting and I admit I found it quite scary but you very quickly get over that. I’m still to this day quite uncomfortable about trying to promote myself in that way, but you find your own way of doing it that you’re comfortable with. And I think if you can do that in a really authentic way, then hopefully that resonates with the public as well.’

19. Build a support network: ‘My advice to people would be to build a support network around you, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most people do want to help you. If you have helpers it makes some of the campaign logistics easier, especially with the bits you might find challenging to do on your own like putting up posters when you have to be high up on a ladder or out on a roundabout!’

20. Have a positive mindset: ‘I’ve spoken really positively about door knocking, but you do get the occasional one where it’s not such a positive experience. Although you may have knocked on 100 doors and there’s only one of them that’s not been positive, it is very easy for that to stick in your mind. Try to focus on the positive engagements and keep plugging away on your campaign.’

21. Do the training on offer: ‘There is a lot to learn when you first get elected, and the induction program offered by the States Greffe is really good, and there is support from officers to assist newly-elected Members. Say ‘yes’ to any of the opportunities offered so you get up to speed quickly and keep an eye out for the continuing professional development which is specifically designed for parliamentarians.’

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