1. How To Write An Effective Manifesto

2. Writing a winning manifesto can capture the imagination, and more importantly, the vote of your fellow students! 
Your manifesto is your chance to let the electorate know more about you and what you stand for. Your manifesto, and photo, will be the only things many voters will know about you when they are in the process of voting.

3. What is a manifesto? ‘A public declaration of policy and aims.’
The key document used to publicise yourself throughout your campaign.
Somewhere to succinctly highlight your key plans.

4. Why is it necessary? You need to know why you want to be elected.
You need to be able to tell students why they should vote for you.
200 key words not only allows the Manifestos to fit in the Courier, but also helps you remember your main points, and helps you share them effectively (500 words for the website submission).

5. What should it say?
The main point of a manifesto is to earn you votes.
Therefore, yours needs to state what you want to achieve if you are to win the election.
Make sure you keep the student voters in mind whilst writing your manifesto.
Your manifesto should be based on evidence from students on what they want or what their issues are – if you are campaigning on a list of things that only you want, nobody will vote for you
Remember – if you are elected you are there to represent the student body, not your own personal views.
If you are campaigning with a list of things that only you want, no-one will vote for you.

6. Top tips Speak to students – find out what they want.
Look at recent research into student opinion – see the resources in the Candidates pages for some summaries of surveys that might be useful
Create a list of aims, but pick no more than 3 or 4 key points to concentrate on in your manifesto.
Remember to keep the position you are standing for in mind, as well as what will be involved in that role.
Explain why your aims will have an impact, not just what you want to change.
Avoid writing your manifesto as one long paragraph.
Remember – they are the ones voting and those that you will be impacting if elected. It’s extremely important to listen to them.
Don’t forget about the rest of your aims though, they will come in handy whilst campaigning and speaking to students.
5. It will be easier to read, and will stand out more in smaller sections/bullet points.

7. Don’t write anything that isn’t true.
Think about why YOU would vote for someone and keep that in mind when writing to get others to vote for you.
Say something different.
Don’t use jargon or acronyms that only a minority of students will understand.
Make sure you aren’t making empty promises. Your aims should be achievable.
Create snappy titles for your aims and be concise with the description.
i.e. you can state that you think you will be the best for the job, not that you actually are.
3. Mention ideas you think no-one else will have as these will be what make you stand out.
4. Basically just eliminate the risk of alienating anyone who may vote for you.
5. You may have a genius idea that would get everyone to vote for you, but remember they are voting for you so you can follow that through. If it is unachievable you are unlikely to keep the voters onside as they won’t take you seriously

8. Make sure people know which position you are running for.
Make sure you tell people a bit about yourself, i.e. what course are you doing? Have you been involved with the Students’ Union before?
Make sure people know which position you are running for.
Don’t forget to tell people to vote for you!
Voters will scan read so short one liners will catch their attention and a short description will keep them reading.
The more you can relate to your voters, the more likely they are to vote for you, as I keep saying, you are there to represent them and this kind of info will make them feel like you are capable of doing that.
TASK – Think of a list of key aims. (you should have an idea of at least some if you have already picked up an application pack!)
Write down a list of ideas.
Pull out 3 key ones you would like to be in your manifesto.
Describe why these are important and how they will improve your representatives’ student experience.
Is there something unique on the list?
Are they achievable?
Are they concise – can you fit them into a couple of words?
Tell us about yourself – relate to your voters.

9. Your manifesto will help with..
Candidates Question Time. There will be an opportunity to give a 20 second pitch outlining your aims.
Lecture shout outs.
ing students.
‘GOATING’ (Go out and talking).
Your manifesto speeches. They work best when tailored to target your audience.

10. Task Write a list of ideas
Pick 3 key aims from your list that you would like to be in your manifesto
Describe why these are important and how they will improve your representatives’ student experience
Is there something unique on your list?
Are they achievable?
Can you write them in a few words?
Tell us about yourself – relate to your voters

11. Key info
You MUST submit your manifesto to before 10am on Monday 25th April 2016
Your manifesto should be no longer than 200 words, but also not much shorter.
It should be a Microsoft Word document, in Times New Roman font, size 12.
Make the subject of your , and save the document, as your name, the position you are running for and the word MANIFESTO.
You can use bullet points, capitals, bold font and italics.
Submit a passport sized photo, hi-res and on a white background, alongside your manifesto to go in The Courier.