Candidates facing the toughest test

But an island-wide election presents a gruelling test of candidates as well as voters.

It is a matter of scale. Compare, say, the vote in 2016 with what the 118 candidates are currently going through.

A new candidate in the West in 2016 had to squeeze enough votes out of just over 4,000 people on the electoral roll to get in.

It’s a large number, but nothing like the challenge of 2020. It’s intimidating but not invincible. With hard work, shoe leather and a winning smile, a candidate could secure the 1,200+ votes required, especially if they had a strong parish base or well-known face to start with. All they had to do was get more votes than four out of the nine candidates.

With 30,000-plus voters the demands are enormous. Emails, social media posts and texts are flooding in. Some are from individual voters, some from third sector groups, some from the media and government. Each needs an answer.

It is relentless.

The States Assembly & Constitution Committee has, for example, sent almost 80 public questions to each candidate. Some require detailed, researched, comprehensive answers.

As with everything about this election the challenge is harder for new candidates. A standing deputy has had four or more years in the School of the States. They have read the Billets (or should have), formed an opinion, written or listened to countless speeches.

A new kid on the block is making a standing start. They must pitch for the job for which they have had no training and come up with fully developed answers on scores of difficult subjects.

In the middle of all this, they are pulled from pillar to post running an election campaign with media work, a host of hustings, social media and, if they have time, a brave attempt to knock on as many doors as possible.

Those new candidates who keep all of those plates spinning will have survived an election campaign far tougher than any of their predecessors.