1. PowerPoint 5: Local Candidates and Issues

2. What is an electoral division?
An electoral division is the name given to a geographical area represented by an elected official.
It is also known as an electoral district, riding, or constituency.
The size of an electoral division is determined by population size and geographical features (roads, landmarks, etc.).
Urban electoral divisions are small and densely populated, while rural electoral divisions are large and sparse.

3. What is an MLA?
At the provincial level in Manitoba, the elected official is called a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).
MLAs represent the needs and interests of their constituents (people living in their electoral division) and deal with issues at the local level.
Manitoba will be electing 57 MLAs in the 2016 provincial election.

4. How do we select our MLAs?
Manitoba uses a system called First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) for selecting MLAs.
One member is selected for each electoral division.
Voters can only choose one candidate on their ballot.
The winning candidate must receive the most number of votes.

5. How does our system work?
Below is an example of an electoral division with 100 ballots cast in the election.
CANDIDATE NUMBER OF VOTES
Lisa (Banana Party)
Mohamed (Pear Party)
Emma (Apple Party)
Thomas (Independent)
Lisa wins because she has the most votes.

6. How does someone run for election?
A person running for election is called a candidate.
Any person who wants to run in the provincial election must file nomination papers with Elections Manitoba by the nomination deadline.
Political parties select candidates to run for their party in electoral divisions across the province.
Candidates can also run as independents (without any affiliation to a party).
Elections Manitoba posts the names of the candidates on their website:

7. Your Own Political Views
Your political views are developed from your experiences, personal feelings and opinions.
Your views are also shaped by talking to people whose opinions you respect, by researching in the media and by thinking about your values.

8. Getting to know the Candidates
There are many ways to gather information about your local candidates: town hall meetings or candidate debates, radio and television, newspaper and magazines, websites and social media, and campaign offices and events.
To make an informed decision, it is helpful to reflect on how you feel about the topics discussed throughout the campaign.

9. Final Thoughts How should you evaluate candidates?
What characteristics or skills do you expect from your MLA?
What local issues are important to you?