These questions may help you decide who to choose when voting

John Langlois

THE Electoral Support Group was formed with three objectives: to encourage voters to (1) register, (2) research and (3) vote. We now encourage you to get out and vote.

But who do I vote for? That is the question.

We hope that the answers the candidates have submitted in response to our questionnaire, as well as their manifestos, will help you make a decision as to which 38 candidates will form the best Assembly to represent us in the future.

The following questions to ask yourself may help:

1. Do I know enough about a candidate to be confident that I know whom I am voting for and what she/he will do if elected?

2. Do I trust the candidate to spend wisely the £400+m. that we, the taxpayers, pay in tax each year – a million pounds every day of the year?

3. Has the candidate demonstrated by his/her accomplishments and experience in his/her personal life that he/she has the ability to do this?

4. As the island now has huge debts as a result of the Covid pandemic, what has the candidate said about where the money is going to come from to pay back those debts, such as reducing services or increasing taxation?

5. What, if anything, has the candidate promised to do which will cost money and so inevitably increase our island debt?

6. Has the candidate demonstrated the ability to think creatively and not simply vote as the party whip or external influences demand?

7. Does my list of 38 ‘possibles’ have the necessary spread to ensure that the States will have a team of deputies with complementary skills who between them have the experience and skills to oversee our island affairs?

8. As we have not had traditional hustings as in the past, under an independent chairperson with the usual report in the media the next day as to how questions were answered, what unanswered questions do I have about the candidate before I cast my vote?

9. In the case of an existing deputy, what has the States accomplished in the past four years and what contribution has she/he made towards that accomplishment?

10. As I look through my final list, how confident am I that I have chosen candidates who between them form the best team with the experience, skills, knowledge and competence to represent me well for the next four years and to spend my hard-earned money wisely?

When you have finalised your list, send in your postal vote or vote in person.