Make your election issues the election issues

TODAY is your chance to help shape the island's future by setting the agenda for the forthcoming general election of people's deputies.

Instead of candidates simply setting out their views, we want to give electors the opportunity of getting answers on the issues that matter to them.

We will be canvassing islanders and other lobby groups on the topics that they think are important and producing a list of questions for candidates to answer.

As well as publishing all the manifestos from would-be deputies, we will also produce a special supplement setting out their answers to the questions you have posed.

Where a candidate won't or hasn't responded, we'll make that clear, too.

Those seeking election are frequently accused – largely unfairly – of telling the electorate what they think people want to hear.

Now, for the first time, everyone, whether they intend voting or not, will have a hands-on opportunity to identify the election issues that they care about rather than simply hearing what candidates think are the issues.

The Guernsey Press would like you to send in the questions you want the candidates to answer.

We will then produce a shortlist of the top requests before passing them on to all candidates to answer. Their responses will be printed in the run-up to the election to give voters an at-a-glance guide to where everyone stands.

Your questions can be open ended, simple yes or no, or even multiple choice. They will be accepted through the post, via email, through thisisguernsey.com, on Twitter or through the Guernsey Press Facebook page.